Louis XVI period chest of drawers

Exceptional and rare Louis XVI period chest of drawers in mahogany and gilded bronzes.

From the Charles Stein collection CHARLES STEIN (sale May 10-14, 1886)

Rare chest of 3 mahogany doors from Louis XVI period circa 1780, very sober, it is furnished with magnificent chiseled bronze and gilded with ground gold

The quality of this piece of furniture both by the choice of wood species and by the assembly of the frame make one think of the great cabinetmakers of the reign of Louis XVI: J.H. Riesener, Benemann or J.F. Leleu.

This chest of drawers was part of the collection of Mr Charles Stein, great collector of the 2nd part of the 19th century, part of his collection was bequeathed to the Louvre museum. Our chest of drawers was put on sale during the 1st sale from May 10 to 14, 1886 of its collections at the Georges Petit gallery under the number 385. Under the decription:
"lot 385" a piece of furniture between two and at support height at cut angles, closing with 3 doors surmounted by a row of 3 mahogany wood drawers, furnished with a frieze with foliage foliage, offcuts and chiseled and gilded bronze moldings. The square feet are also adorned with gilded bronze leaves. White marble top. This piece of furniture dating from the reign of Louis XVI,
reminds by its form and its decoration, the works of Riesener. "

Very good state of conservation, the bronzes of the keyholes have been replaced, as well as the marble.

The chest of drawers has a solid oak and mahogany frame. The doors have a speckled mahogany veneer in the center. The rich decor of this chest of drawers consists of 3 drawers at the top, the one in the center is decorated with an elegant frieze in gilded bronze with ground gold of the greatest finesse.

The 3 doors successively receive a frame in gilded bronze with ground gold of a heart stripe underlined by a row of pearls for the central panel, and a frieze of parsley leaves on each side door giving the impression that the decoration disappears. behind the central panel.

The side panels are also nicely framed with chopsticks decorated with parsley leaves and heart stingray

The bottom of the cabinet is set with a molded gilded bronze rod on which is attached a rich motif composed of a heart-shaped cartouche partially masked by an acanthus palmette on which blooming roses.

The 4 sheathed feet are shod with acanthus quiver hooves with beaded ribs between which sticks of forget-me-nots rise.