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Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Bois de Bout Commode Stamped C. Chevallier

Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood and Bois de Bout Commode Stamped C. Chevallier

$75,000.00

Status: Available

  • Mid-18th Century

  • Inv Number:
  • #2031

About

The serpentine molded rouge royal marble above two long bombe-shaped drawers 'sans traverse' inlaid with bronzes and floral sprays, the sides decorated similarly, on splayed legs, the angles headed by floral-cast clasps and reaching to floral-cast sabots. Stamped C.Chevallier twice in front and back right top corners under marble and JME once in right back corner. Charles Chevallier, maitre before 1738. This sumptuous commode with a voluptuous and supremely elegant rocaille shape was made by Charles Chevallier, (b. circa 1700 d. 1771), who came from a distinguished family of ebenistes. His paternal uncle, Jean-Baptiste and his father, Mathieu (d. 1732), who had a workshop in rue de Saint-Paul, were both ebenistes. Mathieu had two sons, Jean-Mathieu, known as Chevallier l'Aine (1696-1768/71) and Charles, known as Le Jeune. The brothers worked together in the family workshop under the sign of "A La Croix de Chevalier" situated in the rue de Grenelle, Paris. Charles also had a shop on the rive gauche in the rue du Bac. Although younger than Jean-Mathieu, Charles acted as manager of the business since he was received as a maitre first, probably before 1738, whereas his brother was not accepted until 1743. Although there is no documentary evidence to prove that Charles was appointed ebeniste to the crown, amongst his clientele were leading financiers and aristocrats of the day, for example the Minister Ogier d'Ivry, for whom he made amongst other pieces a "gracieux chiffonier de bois de rose". Both Charles and his brother were listed in the 'Almanac d'indication', 1769 as leading exponents of their trade. At times Charles worked in association with colleagues such as Jean Lapie, for instance both their stamps appear on a bureau, presented by Bouvier now in the Musee de Carnavalet, Paris. Charles Chevallier died in Paris 1771, leaving behind him a prosperous workshop stocked with important pieces in "bois des Indes".

35 in. high, 47 in. wide and 26.25 in. deep.