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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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A beautiful small Louis Philippe period Louis V revival gilt bronze mounted floral marquetry rosewood and kingwood commode stamped NEVUE, the serpentine shaped moulded brèche d’Alep marble top above two drawers each with a C-scrolled rocaille escutcheon, the drawers and waved apron inlaid overall with a ribbon-tied floral bouquet within a shaped cartouche, the sides similarly inlaid, the cabriole angles with C-scroll and rocaille mounts, the cabriole legs terminating in small foliate-cast scrolled sabots Paris, date circa 1840 Height 80 cm, width 80 cm, depth 41 cm. The Parisian firm of Neveu was recorded working at rue Traversière-Saint-Antoine from 1839-41. A firm of that name (probably the same) was recorded at rue Neuve-Saint-François in 1853 and at rue de Saintonge in 1856. From about the 1840’s and throughout the nineteenth century French furniture makers imitated past historical styles, recreating pieces in the Gothic, the Louis XIV, Régence, Louis V and VI styles. Of them the Louis V became the most imitated of all. Its popularity arose partly as a reaction to the more severe lines of the preceding Empire style as well as the quantity of authentic Louis XV furniture. Moreover the Louis V style was (and still is) considered by many to mark the peak of refinement, with its unusual sinuous lines, precious materials and outstanding decorative appeal. There were two types of such revival works: those that emulated a similar quality and style and those that exhibited more stylistic freedom, with accentuated shapes or additional lacquers as well as stylised mounts. The present piece belongs to the first category and can be compared, for instance with the work of the celebrated eighteenth century ébéniste Pierre Roussel (1723-82). |