19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Burl Walnut Marble Top Commode

2206-13320 (Click to Inquire About This Item)

38H x 50W x 22D

Location: Dallas

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19th Century French Louis Philippe Period Burl Walnut Marble Top Commode is a splendid example of the genre, which represented an abrupt departure from the excessive style flair of the preceding monarchy, instead using tailored architecture to glorify the sheer natural beauty of the wood and stone.  Here the artisans have used a technique called bookmatching to halve planks of burl and fold them open like the pages of a book to create mirror image patterns across the facade.  Such efforts require great skill and patience, and result in incredibly inspired visual appeal.  No metal was used on the exterior for utility or adornment, instead turned wood key guards protect the keyholes, and keys themselves are used as drawer pulls.  The serpentine top tier, a trademark of the style, conceals the uppermost drawer, while the baseboard below conceals yet another drawer for five drawers total.  On top we see the so-called "sandwich" marble wherein a groove was cut into the side of the honed marble, rather than a pronounced beveled edge, which was a feature used for a relatively brief period during this era.  The natural geological formations of the stone and the incredible allure of the wood combine to make this an instant family heirloom!
Circa 1860s
Measures 38H x 50W x 22D

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