Mahogany Chest Of Drawers Stamped Durand

A very fine early 19th-century mahogany and bronze commode with a grey St. Anne marble top. The cabinetmaker Prosper Guillaume, who worked with his father and succeeded him in 1834, was cabinetmaker to the king and was cited in 1839 as a young manufacturer of the greatest promise. He won a bronze medal at the 1834 Exhibition of French Industrial Products. In 1839, he won a silver medal. He also received a silver medal at the 1844 exhibition. In 1855, he received a special jury prize for a carved sideboard. Prosper Louis Durand, son of Louis Durand. He worked from 1834 to 1862 and received numerous official commissions for various royal residences (1838, Saint-Cloud, King's dining room; 1838, Saint-Cloud study; the Tuileries in 1840 for the Duchess of Nemours's bedroom; in 1842 for the Sèvres Museum; in 1843 for the Prince of Joinville's bedroom, also at Saint-Cloud; in 1843 for the Prince of Saxe-Comburg's bedroom; and in 1846 for Versailles, the librarian's residence). He was based on Boulevard Beaumarchais until 1853, then on Rue Saint-Claude-au-Marais until 1862.