Etienne Doirat, Amaranth Commode From The Regency Period.

A beautiful and rare commode with a gently curved front, opening with four drawers in three rows: two drawers at the top and two wide drawers below. The front is decorated with amaranth friezes forming rectangular cartouches surrounded by flat bands, while the sides feature a lozenge pattern, a characteristic feature of the master's decorative style. Each drawer front is adorned with drop handles on rosettes and keyhole escutcheons in chased and gilt bronze, separated by darkened rails with copper channels. The rounded front uprights are highlighted with three copper flutes and terminate in wide bronze sabots. The lower rail is straight, without an apron, highlighting the elegance and restraint, still very much in the Louis XIV style, of this Regency commode. The top is crowned with Belgian Royal Red marble, molded with a corbel edge. This original marble top was professionally restored some time ago, preserving the piece's authenticity without compromising its aesthetic appeal, as the restoration is extremely discreet (you have to know it's there to see it). Construction: The veneer is entirely original, made exclusively of amaranth, a wood less common than violet wood or rosewood, which were used at the same time. This choice, found on several other commodes stamped Doirat, is a recurring signature of the cabinetmaker. The drawers, made of walnut (a wood that Étienne Doirat also used with elm), are remarkably delicate: less than 1 cm thick, with "hat-shaped" bottoms set in rebates, and molded fronts with a corbel-shaped profile carved from a thick piece of amaranth, rather than a simple veneer as used by his contemporaries. These manufacturing details, consistently observed on other commodes by Doirat, reveal his exacting technical standards. The frame, in accordance with Parisian practices of the Regency and the early reign of Louis XV, is entirely made of softwood, complete with its original back and floor. Bronzes: The bronzes are original and retain their original gilding, which is crucial: Étienne Doirat was one of the few cabinetmakers of his time to have his own bronze designs executed. Some handle threads have been re-threaded, and two drawer pulls are later additions, but the whole piece retains its authenticity. Condition and restoration: Some minor veneer repairs and grafts have been carried out, the veneer still retaining a good thickness. The commode retained only one original lock; three other period locks were sourced and fitted as replacements. The entire piece was polished with a shellac French polish, revealing the brilliance and depth of the amaranth wood. Historical context: Étienne Doirat (1675–1732) became a master craftsman before 1719. Active during the Regency and the early years of Louis XV's reign, he was one of the most renowned Parisian cabinetmakers of his time. His furniture, often curved, combines the rigor of Louis XIV with forms foreshadowing the Louis XV style. His production, characterized by distinctive bronze mounts and the use of woods such as amaranth, plays a vital role in the evolution of Parisian furniture. Doirat died in 1732, allowing us to date this commode to around 1725. It is therefore a rare example of the early commodes topped with marble, emblematic of the Regency period. Dimensions including the marble top: Height: 82 cm Width: 128 cm Depth: 61.5 cm