Louis XV commode stamped FG for François Garnier

Curved chest of drawers in violet wood veneer, opening to three drawers in two rows. The rich ornamentation of chased and gilded bronzes is striking: the leafy falls continue into fillets and end in lion's paw shoes decorated with floral motifs. The cambered legs lighten the dresser's silhouette. Two brass rings frame the lower drawer from above and below. The gilded bronze crossbow handles are trimmed with ivy leaves and attached to a cartouche in the center. The chest's two locks are inlaid into the drawers and feature typical Rococo decoration of leafy twists and shells. The apron extends the curved cut-out of the cabinet and ends in scrolls of chased leaves.
The top is molded in French Red marble.

Condition

Height: 87 cm - Width: 131 cm - Depth: 65 cm

Father of the famous cabinetmaker Pierre Garnier, François Garnier worked on rue du Faubourg-Saint Antoine, where he was a juror of the corporation of cabinetmakers from 1742 to 1744. Stamping was not compulsory during his early career, so few works can be attributed to him with any certainty. However, the signed pieces we do find, such as this one, demonstrate great attention to detail and real talent. He died in Paris in 1774 on rue des Moineaux.