This stunning pair of commodes was crafted around 1880 in France. Identical in design, they are modelled after a piece created by Martin Carlin (German, 1730–1785) for Madame Victoire, daughter of King Louis XV. Originally delivered to her grand cabinet at the Château de Bellevue in 1785, the original now resides in the Louvre’s collection.
Each commode is surmounted by a black veined marble top, edged with a refined bead-and-reel ormolu moulding. Below, a striking frieze is adorned with scrolling foliate ormolu mounts, a design that continues seamlessly across all three sides of the piece.
The commodes feature three lockable doors that open to reveal a spacious interior with a single shelf. Flanking the central, larger panel are two rectangular sections framed in ormolu, further embellished with delicate draped floral garlands, ribbon-tied at the corners.
The side uprights are elegantly designed with Corinthian columns, complemented by animal-shaped legs crowned with acanthus leaves.
A focal point of these exquisite commodes are the central panels, decorated using the Vernis Martin technique - an 18th century French japanning method developed by the Martin brothers to imitate Chinese lacquer. The artwork, rendered in the characteristic green and golden-red hues of Vernis Martin, is inspired by masterpieces from renowned artists: Melpomene, Erato, and Polyhymnia by Eustache Le Sueur (1616–1655) and Jacob and Laban by Charles-Antoine Coypel (1694–1752). Both paintings are surrounded by an ormolu frame and one includes flower-shaped mounts on the edges.
Each commode stands on six turned wooden legs, elegantly finished with ormolu sabots. The wood is stamped ‘DURAND PARIS’, identifying the maker as Gervais-Maximilien-Eugène Durand (b. 1839), a celebrated cabinetmaker specialising in 18th-century-style furniture. Durand’s exceptional craftsmanship earned him recognition at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889.
With its impressive design, superb craftsmanship, and historical significance, this pair of commodes would make a magnificent addition to any refined interior.
