Scribanne Commode In Mahogany XVIII Century

Curved solid mahogany "scriban" desk chest of drawers opening with a flap and four drawers. Bordeaux work from the Louis XV period. Unlike the cabaret table, it was not from Parisian influence that the fashion for scriban dressers in the major French ports was born but rather from the relationships they maintained with the Northern countries. We must indeed see its origin in the Dutch cabinet or "schrifcabinet" whose lower body is strongly domed. This is even more true in Bordeaux, a city which maintained commercial relations with Holland. So in the 18th century, this piece of furniture that we call today “scriban” was referred to as “office-cabinet”. This is undoubtedly not a simple coincidence because in fact it seems to have the same functions as the old ebony cabinets of the Louis XIV period, both furniture intended to contain precious and secret objects but with a strong spirit of representation. In Bordeaux, even more than the famous tomb chest of drawers, the scribanne chest of drawers is the piece of furniture for the wealthy Bordeaux shipowner or merchant, a perfect expression of the splendor of these 18th century merchant societies. From the first glance, this opulent piece of furniture stands out, and convinces us that we are in the presence of a piece of furniture responding to the order of a wealthy and demanding client. The West Indian woods used are all superb: branched mahogany for the facade, the theater and the sides of the scriban, mahogany for the frame supporting the flap, wire mahogany for the sides of the chest of drawers, and even the recesses of the drawers which surprisingly delight the eye for the sides of the interior drawers and the bottoms of the chest of drawers, oak for the bottoms of the interior drawers and the sides of the chest of drawers. Furthermore, the lines of the furniture are remarkable, with great amplitude and perfect fluidity of the curve, the assemblies are for their part close to perfection. The mahogany with its patinated cherry-red color is illuminated by a rich original bronze adornment (of which we note the thickness, a guarantee of solidity for this heavy piece of furniture). Because when it comes to port furniture, very often the bronze fittings came from Paris (for high quality furniture only). Our cabinetmaker is particularly innovative, choosing bronzes in the latest Parisian fashion. The upper part opens with a flap made of a single wide board molded around its perimeter and scalloped in the upper part (equipped with a brass lock with triple bolt and held open by two brass hinges which reveal a large curved theater in the shape of a ship's hull: in the center a molded monoxyl tabernacle door, in plan is supported by two high drawers hidden in the woodwork (these drawers must have contained important letters and confidential / Note that they must be pushed with a fingernail from the side and that they are firmly blocked by dowels crossing from the inside of the tabernacle where a wooden bolt also blocks the sliding of the floor closing the secret cellar / So, let us make no mistake, the tabernacle closing with two turns of its small key acts as a real safe. On both sides are arranged in three rows, and in two without crosspieces, six drawers (of which one will observe - particularly in the photograph of the drawer laid flat - the formidable purity of the curves in plan and elevation combined), all topped by a step. We also note an excellent connection between the desk part and the chest of drawers, a connection which is not as convincing on all the scribans, providing here excellent homogeneity to the whole. The convenient part has substantial curves, both in plan and elevation. The uprights are hollowed out with reserves and molded on their internal edge in the continuity of the crosspieces to form a frame around the drawers, while the borders of the drawers are themselves highlighted by a wide border. Note the cutouts of the drawers, in particular those of the two smallest in the upper row framing the facade of the secret cellar adorned with a small trompe-l'oeil drawer richly molded in the shape of an escutcheon. Finally, the front and rear uprights are punctuated with very well sculpted scrolled feet and the wide low crossbar, highlighted by a large frame molding which continues on the side crossbars, is covered with vigorous fretwork. Very rare original condition (not a transplant to report), with all its period bronze and wrought iron trim (handles, keyholes, compasses, the five locks with 3 keys to operate them. Simply report a hinge replaced). The piece of furniture has been enhanced by extensive restoration* and a superb wax-filled patina. * Speaking of restoration, let us also point out two rather singular clear and deep marks dug on the back of the rear pillars. Our carpenter was surprised by this until he reassembled the tray and frame part of the flap, which had been completely dismantled and then glued back together with bone glue (the opportunity is too good not to mention, which very often customers are not really aware that the restoration of a piece of furniture more than two centuries old is a serious matter, too often purely abandoned these days, and so when our carpenter restores a piece of furniture he takes care just as much of the internal part than the external part. Our scribans are therefore almost all dismantled, the interiors dislodged and everything readjusted and glued). And so grabbing his long, heavy clamps and asking himself the question of how he was going to place them at around 45 degrees without them slipping, he instantly understood the interest of these two famous (and judicious) notches . He also told us that it was for him a beautiful nod to the past. This piece of furniture, opulent but with a classic layout and exceptional finish, takes on the appearance of being commissioned for a Bordeaux shipowner. Bordeaux, end of the Louis XV period, 18th century.