Small Louis XV Period Commode With A Jump Seat, Stamped Louis-noël Malle.

A charming small Louis XV period commode, stamped LN MALLE and bearing the JME guild mark. With its elegant and compact dimensions, this piece belongs to the category of commodes known as "entre-deux" commodes, designed to be easily placed between two windows, between two doors, or in the narrow spaces of 18th-century apartments. The commode opens with two superimposed drawers separated by a rail and features a curved front and sides, both in plan and elevation, resting on four cabriole legs. Construction: The piece exhibits a construction characteristic of 18th-century Parisian cabinetmaking. The frame is made of oak and softwood, a practice widely used in Paris during the reign of Louis XV. The front rails are joined with dovetail joints, while the rear rails are joined with pegged mortise and tenon joints. The back is made of vertical planks. The drawers are made of finely cut oak, assembled with dovetail joints. The front dovetail joints are covered by stop blocks, which serve both as depth stops and elegantly conceal the joints when the drawer is opened—a common practice in Parisian workshops. The drawer fronts are made of softwood (fir), consisting of several planks joined and glued together to achieve the necessary thickness for the curved shape. This technique optimizes the use of wood, a precious raw material, while ensuring good structural stability over time. Veneer and decoration: The chest of drawers is veneered with rosewood and violet wood, species frequently used in Parisian cabinetmaking during the second half of the 18th century. The sides of the piece feature rosewood veneer arranged in a herringbone pattern, formed of two symmetrical sheets meeting on a central axis, like an open book. This panel is framed by a strip of kingwood joined with mitered corners, then by a wider kingwood frame extending to the feet. The front features a more complex design: the rosewood veneer reserves are composed of four leaves joined in a diamond pattern, forming a particularly decorative symmetrical design. The rounded edges of the drawers are veneered in rosewood, while the front uprights and rails are veneered in kingwood, creating an elegant contrast between the two woods. The veneer is also carefully joined on the corner uprights, the leaves being cut at an angle to ensure visual continuity of the design between the front and the sides of the piece. Ornamentation: The commode is adorned with 18th-century gilt bronze mounts, including: two bronze drops on the front uprights, two sabots on the front feet, a bronze apron covering the base, four drawer pulls, and two keyhole escutcheons. The piece retains its two original locks. Stamp and Guild Mark: The commode bears the stamp LN MALLE, corresponding to Louis-Noël Malle (1734-1782). Admitted as a master cabinetmaker on November 18, 1765, Louis-Noël Malle established himself on the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine in Paris, where he ran a workshop producing furniture veneered in precious woods, notably rosewood and violet wood, as well as marquetry pieces. His production spans the Louis XV, Transitional, and Louis XVI styles. The piece also bears the JME hallmark, the mark of the Guild of Master Cabinetmakers of Paris. Introduced in 1751, this hallmark served as the guild mark affixed to furniture produced in Parisian workshops, certifying that it had been inspected by the guild and subject to its tax. Condition: The commode retains its original marble top. The chest of drawers has been restored and varnished, and is now in excellent condition. The frame is entirely original and very sound. Dimensions to the marble top: Height: 82 cm Width: 65 cm Depth: 41 cm