A LOUIS XV GILT-BRONZE-MOUNTED CHINESE LACQUER COMMODE, CIRCA 1760, BY ADRIEN DELORME AND LAURENT FELIX |

stamped twice DELORME and JME, and stamped once FELIX, with a brèche d'Alep top, inscribed under the marble top 'boulevard de Madrid Nº1/Neuilly, restorations

Collection Count Sapia di Lancia;
Christie's Monaco, 21 June 1998, lot 605.

This imposing commode is in overall good conserved condition. The mounts are original and in good condition. The marble top apparently original. The lacquer decoration has been conserved throughout with retouching to the gilded and coloured designs and there are some losses to these designs which are noticeable under close inspection on the black ground, especially on the side panels. There is a small movement crack to upper drawer, as visible in the catalogue photograph. The black vernis ground frames displaying nice craquelure but have been redecorated at some point in its history, as often happens. Small marks, chips and losses commensurate with age and use. Both sides with one movement crack which might benefit from attention. One key.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Adrien Delorme (1722-1791), received Master in 1748, belonged to a family of Parisian ébénistes and like his father, François Fazelot-Delorme, produced pieces in Chinese lacquer, fully embracing the rococo style, as can be seen in the commode in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (inv.no. BK-16652). Later on however, he specialised in marquetry pieces. Delorme's reputation as a craftsman in marquetry was such that he was mentioned in contemporary almanacs as 'one of the most adept and renowned in the production of marquetry'.  The present commode is a splendid example of the taste for exoticism under the reign of Louis XV and the use of lacquer panels on furniture pieces. Carolyn Sargentson in her book Merchants and Luxury Markets: The Marchands Merciers of Eighteenth-Century, Paris, 1996, pp. 79-90, describes how the marchands-merciers enlarged their market by adapting imported Chinese lacquer to French furniture forms. They removed lacquer panels from cabinets, chests and screens and re-used them on a multitude of different pieces of furniture. In fact, André Jacob Roubo detailed, in 1772, the process whereby the panels could be removed and re-used on shaped carcasses. The double stamp of Delorme next to which of Felix would point to their collaboration between the two masters.

One of the most eye-catching features of this commode is how skillfully the gilt-bronze mounts were designed as to include the handles of the commode in the continuity of the rocaille and foliate scrolls. The same gilt-bronze mounts are found on Delorme's other commodes, one illustrated in P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 2002, p.281, no.c; with a related mounted cartouche. 

In addition, the front's framing gilt-bronze and apron mounts are similar to those found on a smaller commode stamped Delorme, from the collection of the Elizabeth Parke Firestone, Christie's New York, 23 March 1991, lot 899. The same design for the cartouche's framing mounts was used on a commode stamped Mathieu Criaerd [Kjellberg, P. Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 2002, p.253]. It is also worthwhile to mention that other prominent French ébénistes from the 18th century, such as Boudin, Dubois and Roussell used similar corner mounts, since they were probably assisted by Delorme, who was also a marchand. 

Although Delorme probably produced several lacquer commodes, very few of these have been recorded. Apart from those already mentioned, one is held in the collections of the Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest. A three drawer lacquered commode stamped Delorme was sold Sotheby's London, 2 December 2008, lot 76 [£241,250] and another was sold Sotheby's London, 6 December 2006, lot 60.