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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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A very fine quality Louis XV carved giltwood console, the original serpentine moulded Oberhasli marble top above a pierced frieze centred by a stylised scallop shell above a rose and foliate filled basket within rocaille foliate scrolls and flanked by further flowers and foliage, the serpentine scrolled supports ornamented overall with flowers and foliage terminating in scrolls above splayed pad feet and joined by a pierced stretcher with cresting, foliage and flowers European, date circa 1760 Height 81 cm, width 102 cm, depth 60 cm. This fine carved giltwood console with its openwork decoration, profusion of flowers and overt scrolls above splayed pad feet shares many similarities with those made in Paris. However a number of consoles of a very similar style and featuring the same marble top were also made by the famous Swiss workshop at Berne run by Johann Friedrich Funk I (1706-1775) and his brother Matthäus Funk (1697-1783). Hermann von Fisher, in his book “Fonck A Berne Möbel und Ausstattungen der Kunsthandwerkerfamilie Funk im 18. Jahrhundert in Bern”, 2001, pp. 188-190, illustrates a number of very similar consoles by Johann Friedrich I Funk. In each instance the tops were made of the same serpentine-shaped and moulded mottled pink Oberhasli marble and likewise stand above a pierced scrolled and foliate frieze, scrolled supports and pierced stretcher with either crested or scallop-shaped decoration. If by Funk, it is of little surprise that this piece shares much in common with Parisian pieces since both brothers were fully aware of French fashion and in particular Matthäus lived for a while in Paris. Johann Friedrich and Matthäus, both born in Murten, were one of five brothers of a family of artists and craftsmen. In 1723 their father Johann Lorenz moved from Murten to Berne, where the following year Matthäus gained permission to set up a workshop, which was later to become unusually large and assume great importance. The worksop made all manner of prescious works of art, from furniture, clockcases and carved mirrors and picture frames as well as architectural carved stone fittings and furnishings and tombstones. Matthäus, who began his career as a cabinet-maker in 1706 travelled to Frankfurt and Paris. Well versed with the prevailing European styles, on his returned to Berne he began making fine and fashionable furniture including a number of commodes and bureaux ornamented with gilt bronze mounts as well as clockcases with Boulle marquetry panels. In 1732 he was joined by his brother Johann Friedrich, who as one of the finest makers of carved giltwood mirrors, picture frames and items of furniture similar to the present work, established a monopoly in this field. As a master of carved stone, Johann Friedrich supplied all of the marble tops for furniture made by his brother. In addition he was also responsible for furnishing several country houses such as Lullin in Le Creux-de-Genthod as well as a number of private homes and churches around Berne. In 1753 Matthäus’s son Daniel Beat Ludwig (1726-87), who also worked as a watchmaker joined the business as in turn did Johann Friedrich’s son, Johann Friedrich II (1745-1811) who was a sculptor and like his father specialised in making carved giltwood mirrors, picture frames and furniture. He also continued working in stone and created a number of tombs and portrait busts. Because of their diversity and reputation of makers of high quality furniture and furnishings the Funk workshop enjoyed a strong patronage. Among their clientel were a number of public institutions as well as private Swiss clients and foreigners to include the Württemberg Court and the Council of Berne. |