"Commode à pont" attributed to Etienne Doirat

"Commode à pont" in rosewood opening with four drawers on three rows and resting on four small feet. The chest of drawers is decorated with gilded bronzes on a background of marquetry in diamond point in foot shoes, in entrance of lock, in motive of mask of Ceres, in hands of drawing leafy, in falls, in net of bronze underlining the circumference of the piece of furniture, in handles of drawing on both sides. The belt of the chest of drawers is curved and forms a "bridge" (the middle drawer is missing).
The chest of drawers is surmounted by a red Campan marble top.
Attributed to Etienne Doirat
Regency period
Restoration of use, marble restored, two missing side handles reported
H. 84 x W. 107 x D. 60 cm

The piece of furniture in our study is a chest of drawers that we can date to the Regency period. Several elements give us clues as to its dating, but also on its author. We can easily attribute this commode to the cabinetmaker Etienne Doirat (1675-1732).

It is a chest of drawers known as "à pont" (so called for the shape of its frame forming a "bridge"). The curves on the front, sides and uprights indicate that the Louisquatorian style is no longer in use. These affirmed curves are the result of a very great technicality. This know-how never ceases to develop and to be perfected in this first third of the 18th century.

The richness of the bronzes also marks the production of this period. Indeed, they are not only there to reinforce the solidity of the furniture, but also have a decorative role. The motifs in fashion are inevitably the shell and the heads of characters as our chest of drawers proves it to us. Moreover, it is notably thanks to its bronzes that we can attribute it to the talented cabinetmaker Etienne Doirat. His production is composed of many chests of drawers. According to Jean Dominique Augarde, only his late works are stamped (remember that the stamp is mandatory only from 1743). Thus, several chests of drawers bearing "his signature" remind us of the work in our study. This is the case of lot 25 of the sale of March 14, 2018 at Christie's London, and of the signed commode reproduced in the article by Mr. Jean Dominique Augarde in "Etienne Doirat, Menuisier en ébène" in the J. Paul Getty Museum Journal.

On the other hand, the importance given to the frieze of the marquetry can only confirm the attribution to Etienne Doirat. He was particularly fond of highlighting the veneers, which he carefully selected from among the most prestigious species (such as amaranth, violet wood, rosewood or rosewood). The diamond points are motifs that he is particularly fond of.

This chest of drawers is so full of details, whether in its bronze trimmings or in its milling games, it is impossible for us not to notice its great quality.

Sources:
Kjellberg (Pierre), Le mobilier français du XVIIIe siècle, Les éditions de l'amateur
Demetrescu (Alain), Le style Régence, Les éditions de l'amateur
Augarde (Jean Dominique), Etienne Doirat - Ebony Carpenter, The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal Vol. 13