Commode
1775-1780 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The commode was a type of furniture that first originated in about 1700. It quickly became one of the most common and varied objects in an 18th-century interior. This form of commode, with three narrow frieze drawers mounted above two larger drawers, is of a type known as 'transitional'. The form developed in the period between Louis XV and Louis XVI.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 8 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | oak and softwood, veneered in mahogany with marquetry of ebony and boxwood, gilt brass mounts, marble slab. |
| Brief description | Commode, veneered in mahogany with an inlaid trellis pattern of ebony and boxwood, mounted with gilt-brass. Stamped by Jean-Henri Riesener, Paris, about 1775 |
| Physical description | Break-front commode, raised on cabriole legs. The case of oak and softwood, veneered in mahogany with a trellis pattern of ebony and boxwood. The commode has two large drawers, with three small drawers in the frieze. It is mounted with gilt-brass, including three vertical rectangular frames which run across the fronts of the two large drawers, emphasising the break-front form of the case. At frieze level, these vertical frames are topped with three horizontal rectangle frames, each enclosing an interlacing garland of ivy. Each side of the case is similarly mounted with a vertical brass frame below a horizontal frame enclosing a brass garland. The large drawers are mounted with circular drawer pulls. The commode is topped with a white marble slab. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Stamped 'JH RIESENER' on the top of each of the four stiles |
| Gallery label | [Label text by Peter Thornton]
Commode
French (Paris); about 1780
Stamped 'J.H. Riesener'
Veneered with mahogany with inlaid lattice of a lighter-coloured wood and ebony. Gilt-bronze mounts; marble slab
This is one of Riesener's plainest productions. The admiration for mahogany furniture that sprang up in France towards the end of the the century founds its initial inspiration in English mid-18th century furniture which was of course frequently made in this timber.
Jones Collection
Museum No. 1113-1882(1980) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
| Object history | This commode was given to the Museum in 1882, as part of a large bequest by the military tailor and businessman John Jones. At the time that Mr Jones' collection entered the Museum, Jean-Henri Riesener was one of the best-known 18th-century cabinetmakers. Many of the pieces in Mr Jones' bequest were wrongly attributed to Riesener. |
| Summary | The commode was a type of furniture that first originated in about 1700. It quickly became one of the most common and varied objects in an 18th-century interior. This form of commode, with three narrow frieze drawers mounted above two larger drawers, is of a type known as 'transitional'. The form developed in the period between Louis XV and Louis XVI. |
| Bibliographic reference | Emilia, Lady Dilke, French Furniture and Decoration in the XVIIIth Century. London: George Bell & Sons, 1901, illustrated opp. p. 168 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1113:8-1882 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 14, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
