Very fine commode à vanteaux after Benneman for Marie Antoinette

This exceptional commode à vanteaux was crafted in early 20th century France. Its design is after one created by Guillaume Benneman (1750- after 1811) and Joseph Stockel (1743-1802) for Marie Antoinette’s Le Salon des Jeux at Fontainebleau.

Surmounting the mahogany commode is a large, richly veined cream and grey marble top. Below is an egg and dart ormolu frieze. Three drawers, two larger and one smaller, are mounted with ornate ormolu mounts, the central one including a lavish lion-shaped escutcheon. The largest, and most prominent frontal panel is centred with an ormolu medallion by Jean Rabiant (signed in the lower right), its design representing the childhood of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. The medallion is surrounded by a large selection of further ormolu mounts cast in shapes such as ribbon-tied garlands, acanthus scrolls, and draping. The two doors open to reveal a selection of six drawers, each one with round ormolu handles.

The sides of the commode are adorned in a similar manner as the front, each one centred by a large ormolu medallion by Rabiant framed in ormolu decoration.

The uprights are fluted and decorated with additional ormolu mounts, their designs matching the rest of the composition. The commode stands on four tapering feet mounted with stylised palmettes and terminating with pinecone ormolu sabots.

In places, the wood bears spurious ‘F. LINKE’ stamps.

Inspired by and celebrating an influential furniture design for Marie Antoinette, the commode is sure to be a magnificent addition to the appropriate interior space.