Small Commode Attributed To Martin Leigart — Besançon, Circa 1760

Small Louis XV commode
attributed to Martin Leigart (1715-1786)
Besançon, circa 1760
Length: 76 cm at the front / 85 cm at the back.
Maximum depth: 48 cm.
Height: 81 cm [including 2.5 cm of marble].
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A charming small commode, curved on all sides, opening with three drawers in two rows.
It is entirely veneered in plum wood on a softwood frame. The drawers have sloping bottoms; the back panels are nailed into the rebates of the rear uprights, as on Grenoble models. Very beautiful Sarrancolin Ilhet marble top. Damaged, it was previously restored and repolished. Original bronze mounts, with beautiful Regency-style wraparound feet. The two original upper locks bear two hallmarks on the headboard: the locksmith's mark (initials PBA) as well as the official hallmark of the Besançon locksmiths' guild (an alerion surmounted by a horizontal key, accompanied by an unfortunately incomplete date – probably that of the locksmith's mastership) [photo 10] [Deloche & Mornand 2011, p. 60]. Two working keys. This commode is in very good condition, with some traces of restoration from use and maintenance. The veneer on the drawer fronts shows numerous wormholes, which have been filled in the past. The wax used during this operation has darkened slightly over time, hence this amazing mottled appearance!-----We propose to attribute our commode to the Besançon cabinetmaker Martin Leigart based on the following data: • Martin Leigart, born in Constance or Freiburg im Breisgau around 1715 and married to a woman from Besançon in 1754, is the only cabinetmaker mentioned in Besançon in the 1751 poll tax register (in 1752, he paid 4 livres in poll tax, slightly less than Pierre Hache at the same time) [op. cit., p. 59]. • On a Regency commode, bearing Leigart's label and also veneered in plum wood, we find the same cut of the apron as on our commode as well as the same frieze decoration on the drawer fronts [photo 12] [op. [cit., p. 59]. • On a slant-front desk also attributed by the authors to Martin Leigart, one can again observe an identical cut of the apron and, above all, the exact same bronze mounts as on our commode [photo 11] [op. cit., p. 62].-----Literature: Bernard Deloche & Jean-Yves Mornand, L'ébénisterie provinciale en France au XVIIIe siècle, Faton, Dijon 2011