Louis XVI Chest Of Drawers With Musical Instruments, 18th Century

An elegant Louis XVI-style chest of drawers with two drawers and no intermediate divider, made in the 19th century. This piece stands out for the quality of its marquetry, its gilded bronze ornamentation, and its veined white marble top.

Detailed Description

Rectangular chest of drawers resting on four slightly tapered, beveled-sided legs, finished with gilded bronze feet. The front, which is particularly decorative, features two drawers stacked one above the other on either side of a wide central panel, with no crossbar separating the drawers—a characteristic of the so-called “sauteuse” chest of drawers.

The entire piece is veneered with mahogany-toned wood, featuring beautiful reddish-brown hues and contrasting grain patterns. The front stiles are accented with light-colored wood fillets and geometric marquetry motifs.

The two side drawers are adorned with rich geometric marquetry, consisting of framing fillets, Greek frets, and rectangular panels at the corners. The slightly protruding central panel is embellished with marquetry depicting a trophy of musical instruments: sheet music, string and wind instruments, floral elements, and knotted ribbons. This decoration, crafted from wood species in various hues, lends the front a remarkable ornamental richness.

The drawers are fitted with gilded bronze pulls and hardware, decorated with medallions, ribbons, and plant motifs in the Louis XVI style. The central panel also features a gilded bronze lock plate in the shape of a medallion, surmounted by a ribbon bow.

The sides are veneered and feature large geometric marquetry panels, framed by fillets and light-wood motifs, with a decoration of vertical bands on the side panels.

The chest of drawers is topped with a white marble slab veined with gray, featuring a molded edge, which lends a touch of simplicity and refinement to the piece as a whole. The slab has a slight, age-related chip visible on the front edge, which should be noted in the sale description.

Stylistic Assessment

This chest of drawers is in the Louis XVI style, recognizable by the precision of its composition, its tapered legs, its geometric frames, and its musical trophy motif. The richness of the marquetry and the use of gilded bronze are particularly evocative of the neoclassical style of the late 18th century, which was elegantly revived in the 19th century.

Period: 19th century, in the Louis XVI style.
Materials: precious wood veneer, stained wood marquetry, gilded bronze, veined white marble.
Type: two-drawer chest with a raised top, no crossbar.
Decoration: musical instrument motif, geometric marquetry, fillets, and Greek frets.
Condition: generally in good condition; some signs of wear and possible previous restorations. Marble top to be examined closely.