#8195 • Rare, 19th Century French Empire Period Four-Drawer Commode in Bookmatched Flame Walnut Veneer with Grey Marble Top, Detached Columns, and Gilt Brass Hardware, Circa 1805–1825, 38"

Part of $2.8 Million McLean Mansion Luxury Downsizing Auction (timed auction by Prime Auction Solutions)

Status: Sold

This commanding French Empire period commode is a superior example of the form — distinguished not only by its dramatic bookmatched flame walnut veneer, but by the exceptional quality of its cast and chased gilt brass hardware, which elevates it well above the common run of provincial Empire production. The rectangular grey fossil marble top rests above a projecting architrave cornice, beneath which a narrow full-width frieze drawer sits flush within the apron — the signature Empire conceit that preserves the architectural unity of the façade. Below, three recessed full-width drawers are flanked by a pair of free-standing cylindrical columns finished with some of the most elaborately worked brass capitals encountered on this form. Each capital is composed of multiple registers of ornamental brasswork: a fine dentil-and-triangle band at the top transitions into a deeply chased scrolling floral and foliate repousse band of exceptional relief and density, surmounted by a separate laurel and berry garland band — the whole suggesting the work of a skilled fondeur-ciseleur rather than a stock provincial hardware supplier. The column bases are similarly fitted with brass ferrules and the shafts themselves are richly figured in matching flame walnut. The drawer pulls are of equally high caliber: each is a large circular boss cast and chased in high relief with a central rose in full bloom flanked by naturalistic foliage, all contained within a gadrooned rope-twist border ring — a pattern associated with quality Parisian or Lyon-area production of the early Empire period. The three lower drawers are fitted with rectangular slot keyhole escutcheons, with hand-cut dovetail joinery clearly visible throughout the drawer construction. The secondary wood is pine throughout — consistent with French provincial cabinetwork of the period — and the dovetail spacing and profile are characteristically hand-executed, confirming period authenticity rather than later reproduction. Drawer interiors are clean and functional. The bookmatched flame walnut drawer fronts produce a repeating pointed arch effect across all three faces — a natural optical phenomenon of the veneer selection that exemplifies the cabinetmaker's eye for material. The case sides are cleanly veneered in coordinating walnut. Bookmatched flame walnut veneer on pine secondary wood. Hand-cut dovetail joinery throughout. Grey fossil marble top. Four drawers (one flush frieze, three recessed). Detached cylindrical columns with multi-band chased gilt brass capitals and bases. Large floral repousse ring pulls with gadrooned borders. Rectangular keyhole escutcheons. French Empire period, circa 1805–1825. Dimensions: 46"W x 25"D x 38"H.