Regency Marquetry Commode, Mid-18th Century

A Regency commode with a curved front and sides, made in Paris in the mid-18th century, bearing the stamp of Migeon, the celebrated dynasty of Parisian cabinetmakers among the most renowned of the reign of Louis XV. The front features four drawers in three rows, with an exposed crossbar, offering a continuous and elegant line characteristic of high-quality Parisian production. The frame is oak, entirely veneered with rosewood and violet wood arranged in a herringbone marquetry pattern, highlighted by wide geometric frames. The selection of veneers, with their strong and contrasting grain, testifies to a very high level of craftsmanship. The front, enlivened by the pronounced curve of the piece, displays perfect symmetry in the veneer design, reinforcing the nobility and balance of the whole. The commode rests on four cabriole legs, terminating in finely chased gilt-bronze sabots, perfectly fitted to the curve of the uprights. The rich ornamentation of mercury-gilt bronze, executed with great finesse, includes: elegant rocaille drawer pulls, openwork keyhole escutcheons, foliate corner mounts, richly carved sabots, and a substantial central rocaille bronze on the lower rail. The top is crowned with a molded, crow-beaked marble slab in shades of pink veined with white, perfectly following the curved shape of the piece. The whole presents a remarkable harmony between the strength of the curve, the restraint of the decoration, and the exceptional quality of the bronzes, characteristic of the finest Parisian production of the mid-18th century. The piece displays a remarkable harmony between the robust curves, the understated decoration, and the exceptional quality of the bronze mounts, characteristic of the finest Parisian production of the mid-18th century. The MIGEON stamp is associated with the renowned Parisian cabinetmaking family. The Migeons supplied a prestigious clientele and are among the best makers of Parisian Louis XV furniture, celebrated for the quality of their veneers, the purity of their curves, and the excellence of their bronze mounts. It measures 111 cm in length, 60 cm in depth, and 86 cm in height.