Commode
ca. 1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This small bedside cupboard was part of a bedroom suite shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900. The exhibition was a showcase for Art Nouveau design, and many of those who had created the style, such as Emile Gallé and Louis Majorelle, displayed their work there. As always, large commercial firms were quick to pick up the new ideas. Perol Frères, who made this piece, was a large cabinetmaking firm that had been founded in 1875 in the heart of the traditional furniture-making quarter of Paris, the Faubourg Saint-Antoine. For the 1900 exhibition they produced good-quality commercial versions of the newest designs for the general market.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Veneered in several woods on a ground of oak, with marquetry panels of satinwood and holly, and carvings in sabicu, gilt mounts, interior lined with marble |
| Brief description | Small commode or bedside cupboard, veneered in oak and other woods, with marquetry showing water-lilies. The frame is of mahogany and water-lily leaves are carved in mahogany to frame the marquetry panels |
| Physical description | A small commode or bedside cupboard raised on tall moulded legs, joined by a low shelf. The body of the commode includes a small cupboard, with a small drawer above, below a marble top surrounded on three sides by a gallery. The fronts of the cupboard, drawer and the back panel of the gallery are set with panels of marquetry and carving showing water-lilies. The sides of the commode are veneered in oak. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | COMMODE
1992-1900
'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'
Part of a bedroom suite shown at the Paris 1900 Exhibition, this commode represents a competent commercial version of French Art Nouveau design. The firm of Perol Frères was founded in the Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, the centre of the furniture trade in Paris, in about 1875.
Given by Sir George Donaldson(1987-2006) |
| Credit line | Given by Sir George Donaldson |
| Object history | Part of a bedroom suite shown at the Paris International Exhibition 1900. Bought by Sir George Donaldson and presented to the V&A |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This small bedside cupboard was part of a bedroom suite shown at the Paris International Exhibition in 1900. The exhibition was a showcase for Art Nouveau design, and many of those who had created the style, such as Emile Gallé and Louis Majorelle, displayed their work there. As always, large commercial firms were quick to pick up the new ideas. Perol Frères, who made this piece, was a large cabinetmaking firm that had been founded in 1875 in the heart of the traditional furniture-making quarter of Paris, the Faubourg Saint-Antoine. For the 1900 exhibition they produced good-quality commercial versions of the newest designs for the general market. |
| Bibliographic reference | Donaldson, George, The Victoria and Albert Museum. Gift of "New Art" Furniture for Circulation. The Magazine of Art, 1901, pp. 466-471 (illus.) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1992-1900 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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