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Lot Essay
JEAN-HENRI RIESENER, MATRE IN 1768.
HISTORY OF THE COMMODE
THE FIRST COMMODE OF THIS TYPE WAS SUPPLIED BY JEAN-HENRI RIESENER TO KING LOUIS XVI FOR HIS CABINET INTRIEUR AT THE CHTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU FOR 6,870 LIVRES ON 31 AUGUST 1776. TWO YEARS LATER, A FURTHER COMMODE WAS COMMISSIONED AND DELIVERED DURING A STAY OF THE KING AT FONTAINEBLEAU. IT WAS REGISTERED AS NUMBER 2958 ON 12 OCTOBER 1778 AND DESCRIBED IN THE JOURNAL DU GARDE-MEUBLE:
DU 12 DUDIT [OCTOBER 1778]. POUR SERVIR AU ROY DANS SON CABINET DE RETRAITE AU CHTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU 2958. - UNE COMMODE DE MARQUETRIE DESSUS DE MARBRE SERANCOLIN AYANT 5 TIROIRS FERMANS CLEF, LA MARQUETRIE COMPOSE DE 5 PANNEAUX DONT 4 MOSAQUE,
CELUI DU MILIEU FAISANT LE 5E REPRSENTANT UN TROPHE PASTORAL, LE TOUT EN PICES DE RAPORT, RICHEMENT ARN DE CONSOLES, GUIRLANDES,
SUPORTS, FRISES, MDAILLONS, ROSETTES, MOULURES ET CADRES DE BRONZE
CIZEL ET DOR D'OR MOULU, LONGUE DE 4 PIEDS 10 POUCES, 2 PIEDS DE PROFONDEUR ET 3 PIEDS DE HAUT.
IMAGE SL281, RL91 Q
THIS COMMODE WAS DELIVERED WITH A STILL UNIDENTIFIED SECRETAIRE.
IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY RECORDS FROM RIESENER, IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE COST OF THE COMMODE WAS IN THE REGION OF 7,400 LIVRES, THE AMOUNT PAID BY THE GARDE MEUBLE DU ROI FOR A SIMILAR COMMODE SUPPLIED TO THE COMTESSE DE PROVENCE (G. DE BELLAIGUE, THE JAMES A. DE ROTHSCHILD COLLECTION AT WADDESDON MANOR, FURNITURE AND GILT BRONZES, FRIBOURG, 1974, I, PP. 239-246, NO. 53).
THE KING WAS EVIDENTLY DELIGHTED BY THE PIECE, FOR IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME, IF IT WAS EVER PLACED IN ITS INTENDED LOCATION. IT WAS ALREADY LISTED IN A PARTIAL INVENTORY TAKEN OF VERSAILLES IN AUGUST 1779:
IMAGE SL281, RL91 S
ITS PRESENCE AT VERSAILLES IS THEREFORE CONFIRMED ONLY NINE MONTHS AFTER ITS DELIVERY TO FONTAINEBLEAU. THE COMMODE WAS THEN RETURNED TO FONTAINEBLEAU, BUT ON 14 APRIL 1784 IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO VERSAILLES AS LISTED IN THE GARDE MEUBLE:
ENVOY DU GARDEMEUBLE DE LA COURONNE M. FORTIN VERSAILLES POUR LE ROY, 2958 UNE TRS BELLE COMMODE DE MARQUETRIE ORNE DE BRONZE DOR D'OR MOULU DESSUS DE MARBRE DE 5 PIEDS 1/2 DE LONG SUR 22 POUCES DE PROFONDEUR ET 37 PO DE HAUT
THEREAFTER THE COMMODE REMAINED IN THE BIBLIOTHQUE OF KING LOUIS XVI UNTIL ITS SALE IN 1794. THE GENERAL INVENTORY OF THE FURNITURE OF THE CHTEAU IN 1785 (AN 0'3461 FOL 43) AND THEN THAT OF JANUARY 1787 (AN 0'3463 IN VOLUME FOL. 54) DESCRIBES IT IN DETAIL:
IMAGE SL281, RL91 T
NO 3463, INVENTAIRE GARDE-MEUBLE DU CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES
APPART DU ROI=1
FOL. 54: BIBLIOTHQUE
UNE COMMODE DE FORME ANTIQUE DESSUS DE MARBRE SRANCOLIN, DE 5 PIEDS DE LONG SUR 23 POUCES DE PROFONDEUR SUR 35 POUCES DE HAUTEUR CINQ TIROIRS PANNEAUX RENFORCS DONT TROIS PETITS PRIS DANS LA FRISE, ET LES FACES D'RABLES VERT; LES DEUX AUTRES TIROIRS PLACS L'UN AUDESSUS DE PANNEAUX, CELUI DU MILIEU REPRSENTE UN SOCLE DE FORME IDENTIQUE DONT LE FOND DE BOIS GRIS ET ORN D'UN VASE ET D'UNE CORBEILLE DE FLAURS ET FRUITS; LES DEUX AUTRES PANNEAUX CONTIGUES ET CEUX DES CTS DE LA DITE COMMODE ONT LES FONDS AUSSI DE BOIS GRIS CADRILLES OU LOZENGES DE BOIS SATIN. TOUS LES POURTOURS DES PANNEAUX, LES FACES DES PIEDS PANS COUPS, ET LES RESSAUTS PLAQUS DE BOIS D'AMARANTHE. LADITE COMMODE ORNE DE DEUX QUARTS DE ROND DONT UN CISELE D'ORNEMENTS, L'AUTRE MOULURES RUNIES, D'UNE FRISE COMPOSE D'ENROULEMENS ET ENTRELACS DE FEUILLES, GENRE ARABESQUE EN ROIS PARTIES, DE CINQ CADRES DEUX ORNEMENS, DEUX GUILANDES DE FEUILLES DE LAURIER, QUATRE ANNEAUX MOBILES ROSACES, UN GRAND RINCEAU, DEUX BOUTS DE BAGUETTES CISELS D'ORNEMENS: AUX DEUX CTS DU DIT RINCEAU, QUATRE CHUTES ET QUATRE FORTS CHAUSSONS: CES HUIT PICES FEUILLES D'ORNEMENS ET QUATRE PETITS CADRES OBLONGS SUR LES FACES DES PIEDS, LE TOUT DE BRONZE DOR D'OR MOULU.
ESTIMATED AT 3,600 LIVRES, THE COMMODE IS DESCRIBED FOR A LAST TIME IN 1792 IN THE INVENTORY OF THE ROYAL FAMILY'S POSSESSIONS, THEN STILL PLACED IN THE BIBLIOTHQUE OF THE KING (AN 013356 IN VOLUME I, FOL. 67). SITUATED OPPOSITE A FIREPLACE AND BELOW A MIRROR IT HAD DISPLAYED UPON IT A VALENCIENNES PORCELAIN GROUP OF THE DESCENT FROM THE CROSS, TWO GOLD CANDELABRA AND A SVRES PORCELAIN WATER EWER.
THE COMMODE REMAINED IN ITS LOCATION UNTIL IT WAS SOLD BY THE REVOLUTIONARY AUCTIONEERS ON 27 JUNE 1794 AS LOT 15,460:
UNE COMMODE EN BOIS DE PLACAGE ET SON DESSUS EN MARBRE D'ITALIE DE L'ARTICLE 1734 ATTENDU QUE LE DIT ARTICLE EST ESTIM AU DESSUS DE MILLE LIVRES, IL A T ARRT QU'IL SERAIT VENDU AUX FEUX...ADJUG 1,600 AU CY. (CITOYEN) DURAND
SEVERAL QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED, SUCH AS WHY THE COMMODE WAS MOVED AT LEAST TWICE BETWEEN FONTAINEBLEAU AND VERSAILLES BETWEEN 1779 AND 1784 AND WHAT WAS IN ITS PLACE AFTER THE BIBLIOTHQUE WAS COMPLETED IN 1775 UNTIL THE RIESENER COMMODE ARRIVED IN 1779?
HAMILTON PALACE
BARON NATHANIEL DE ROTHSCHILD ANNOTATED THE PRIVATE CATALOGUE OF HIS WORKS OF ART OF 1903 WITH THE INFORMATION THAT THIS COMMODE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE VERSTEIGERUNG HAMILTON; THIS MUST REFER TO THE CHRISTIE'S 1882 SALE OF THE CONTENTS OF HAMILTON PALACE, LANARKSHIRE. THE DISPERSAL OF THE HAMILTON PALACE COLLECTION - AMONGST THE GREATEST AUCTIONS OF FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART EVER CARRIED OUT - REVEALS THE PRINCELY TASTE OF THE FAMILY. HELD IN LONDON BETWEEN 17 JUNE AND 20 JULY 1882, ONLY 21 YEARS PRIOR TO BARON NATHANIEL'S NOTE, THE SALE COMPRISED 2,213 LOTS, INCLUDING OLD MASTER PAINTINGS, JAPANESE LACQUER, TAPESTRIES, COINS, MEDALS, GREEK VASES, RENAISSANCE BRONZES AND MEDIEVAL WORKS OF ART, ISLAMIC GLASS, LIMOGES ENAMELS, ARMS AND ARMOUR, AS WELL AS EUROPEAN AND ORIENTAL CERAMICS AND THE FINEST FRENCH FURNITURE. INCLUDED IN THE SALE WAS A COMMODE OF EXACTLY THIS TYPE (LOT 528), SIMILARLY MARKED WITH A ROYAL INVENTORY BRAND 'NO 2842' BUT WHOSE CENTRAL PANEL WAS INLAID WITH A FLORAL BOUQUET; THIS IS TODAY IN THE JAMES A. DE ROTHSCHILD COLLECTION AT WADDESDON MANOR (G. DE BELLAIGUE, FURNITURE, CLOCKS AND GILT BRONZES, FRIBOURG, 1974, P. 239, CAT. 53). ON FIRST GLANCE, THERE APPEARED TO BE NO FURTHER MENTION OF ANY COMMODE THAT COULD WITH CERTAINTY BE IDENTIFIED WITH THIS COMMODE, BUT LOT 517 BORE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION:
517 A LOUIS XV. COMMODE, WITH PANELS OF PARQUETRY, AND PANEL OF MARQUETRY IN FRONT, WITH A VASE AND BASKET OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS, VERY RICHLY MOUNTED WITH FESTOONS OF FOLIAGE AND OTHER ORNAMENTS IN HIGH RELIEF. THE ROYAL CYPHER OVER THE KEYHOLE, SURMOUNTED BY A MOULDED BROCATELLE MARBLE SLAB - 4 FT. 4 IN. WIDE
ALTHOUGH UNILLUSTRATED, IT WAS BOUGHT BY E. JOSEPH FOR 3,213, WHILST THE WADDESDON COMMODE WAS, INTERESTINGLY, SOLD FOR CONSIDERABLY LESS AT 2,310 (TO WERTHEIMER, A DEALER). INTRIGUINGLY, THE 1882 DESCRIPTION WAS MANUALLY CORRECTED IN THE AUCTIONEER'S BOOK TO READ 'A LOUIS XVI COMMODE'.
E. JOSEPH WAS A DEALER WHO PURCHASED SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE SALE AND WHO SOLD THEM ON TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROTHSCHILD FAMILY, INCLUDING LOT 1001, A VERY UNUSUAL REGENCE LEAN-TO SECRTAIRE WHICH HE SOLD TO BARON FERDINAND DE ROTHSCHILD AND WHICH IS NOW ALSO AT WADDESDON MANOR (BELLAIGUE, OP. CIT., P. 269, CAT. 59). IT IS THEREFORE ALMOST CERTAIN THAT LOT 517 FROM THE HAMILTON SALE, WHICH WAS SOLD ON THE FIFTH DAY OF THE AUCTION, IS THIS COMMODE.
THIS IS BORNE OUT BY AN ENTRY IN THE 1876 INVENTORY OF HAMILTON PALACE (HAMILTON DISTRICT LIBRARY HEADQUARTERS, LANARKSHIRE):
INVENTORY OF THE FURNITURE, PICTURES, ARTICLES OF VERTU... AT HAMILTON PALACE 1876.
P. 19 [TAPESTRY ROOMS. SITTING ROOM.]
A CHEST OF TWO DRAWERS. OF INLAID WOODS, THE CENTRE PANEL REPRESENTS A SERPENT HANDLED VASE, A BASKET OF FRUIT, BATTLE AXE ETC. THE WHOLE ORNAMENTED WITH RICHLY GILT METAL WORK. ON THE LOCK THE DOUBLE 'L' SURMOUNTED BY A BROCATELLE MARBLE TOP 4FT 4 IN BY 24 IN.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT MISTAKE IN THE WIDTH MADE BY THE COMPILER OF THE INVENTORY IN 1876 IS REPEATED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE, SUGGESTING THAT THE CATALOGUE ENTRY WAS BASED ON THE LATTER.
WILLIAM BECKFORD AND THE 10TH DUKE OF HAMILTON
THE LEGENDARY COLLECTIONS AT HAMILTON PALACE WERE ASSEMBLED BY ALEXANDER DOUGLAS-HAMILTON, 10TH DUKE OF HAMILTON (D. 1852). IN 1810 HE MARRIED SUSAN EUPHEMIA, YOUNGER DAUGHTER AND HEIRESS OF WILLIAM BECKFORD AND HAMILTON EMBARKED ON THE REBUILDING OF HAMILTON PALACE ONLY THREE YEARS AFTER HE SUCCEEDED TO THE DUKEDOM IN 1819. HE PURCHASED 19 HIGHLY IMPORTANT PIECES IN THE SALE AT FONTHILL ABBEY IN 1823 (WHICH WAS HELD BY THE PURCHASER OF FONTHILL AFTER BECKFORD HAD SOLD THE ABBEY AND ITS CONTENTS IN 1822) AND THESE PURCHASES INCLUDED THE PAIR OF ARMOIRES ATTRIBUTED TO ANDR-CHARLES BOULLE THAT HAD BEEN ACQUIRED BY BECKFORD IN 1814 AND, ACCORDING TO HIS RECORDS, ONCE BELONGED TO THE DUC D'AUMONT (NOW IN THE MUSE DU LOUVRE AND ILLUSTRATED IN D. ALCOUFFE ET AL., FURNITURE COLLECTIONS IN THE LOUVRE, BAUME-LES-DAMES, 1993, PP. 84-85, CAT. 21). SUSAN EUPHEMIA INHERITED A FURTHER 88 PAINTINGS, IVORIES, ENAMELS, PORCELAINS, METALWORK AND THE LIKE, UPON HER FATHER'S DEATH IN 1844.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS RIESENER COMMODE WAS PURCHASED BY WILLIAM BECKFORD (1760 - 1844) IN PARIS SHORTLY AFTER THE REVOLUTION OR IN THE FIRST YEARS OF THE 19TH CENTURY. HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST COLLECTORS OF THE LATE 18TH EARLY 19TH CENTURY WHO AMASSED A PRODIGIOUS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS, BOOKS AND OBJETS D'ART FOR HIS ROMANTIC GOTHIC MANSION, FONTHILL ABBEY, WILTSHIRE, DESIGNED FOR HIM BY JAMES WYATT (D. 1812). OF HIS HUGH BOOK COLLECTION, HE DECLARED 'NOTHING SECOND-RATE ENTERS HERE'. IN 1822 HE HAD TO SELL FONTHILL, WHOSE GREAT TOWER COLLAPSED IN 1825. BECKFORD TRAVELLED REPEATEDLY TO PARIS TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR HIS COLLECTION. HE SEEMS TO HAVE PARTICULARLY FAVOURED THE MAJESTIC NEO-CLASSICISM OF RIESENER'S WORK AND AMONG THE MANY PIECES BY THE ROYAL BNISTE WERE THE MAGNIFICENT BUREAU CYLINDRE THAT WAS SUPPLIED TO THE COMTE D'ORSAY AT THE HTEL D'ORSAY BY RIESENER CIRCA 1770 AND WHICH IS NOW IN THE WALLACE COLLECTION (P. HUGHES, THE WALLACE COLLECTION, CATALOGUE OF FURNITURE, LONDON, 1996, VOL. II, PP. 929 - 941, CAT. 191 (F102)), AND A SECRTAIRE AND COMMODE EN SUITE, BOTH SIGNED AND DATED 'RIESENER FE. 1790' AND 'RIESENER FE. 1791', RESPECTIVELY, WHICH WERE SUPPLIED TO MARIE-ANTOINETTE CIRCA 1783 - 1785 (TODAY IN THE FRICK COLLECTION AND ILLUSTRATED IN T. DELL ET AL., THE FRICK COLLECTION, NEW YORK, 1992, PP. 71 - 91). IT IS KNOWN THAT BECKFORD, WHO HAD SUPPORTED THE REVOLUTION AND WAS IN PARIS AT THE FALL OF THE BASTILLE IN 1789, RETURNED FROM OCTOBER 1790 TO JUNE 1791, NOVEMBER 1791 TO MAY 1793 AND AGAIN FROM MAY 1801 TO MAY 1803. IT WAS VERY POSSIBLY DURING THAT LAST TRIP THAT HE PURCHASED THIS COMMODE, BUT IT COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY HIS AGENT CAPTAIN NICHOLAS WILLIAMS, WHO, WHEN BECKFORD HAD TO FLEE PARIS WHEN UNDER THREAT OF ARREST IN 1793, TRAVELLED TO PARIS FOR HIM FROM JULY 1797 TO NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR. HE ALSO EMPLOYED THE BOOKSELLER AUGUSTE CHARDIN AFTER WILLIAM'S DEPARTURE AND FROM 1802 ALSO HIS FRIEND AND CONFIDANT CHEVALIER GREGORIO FRANCHI (D. 1828) FOR PURCHASES.
THE BIBLIOTHQUE OF LOUIS XVI
LOUIS XVI INITIATED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BIBLIOTHQUE IN THE CABINETS INTRIEURS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AT THE CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES SHORTLY AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS GRANDFATHER, KING LOUIS XV, IN MAY 1774. IT WAS BUILT BY JACQUES GABRIEL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SALON DES JEUX AND WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF THAT YEAR. THE LIBRARY CABINETS FOR THE BIBLIOTHQUE HAD BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE SCULPTOR ANTOINE ROUSSEAU, WHILST THE FIREPLACE WAS THAT WHICH HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO MADAME DE BARRY AT FONTAINEBLEAU BY BOIZOT AND GOUTHIRE. CAPIN SUPPLIED A SUITE OF SEAT-FURNITURE WITH WHITE AND GREEN CRIMSON DAMASK ON 14 JANUARY 1775 (NO. 4401) AND RIESENER, A LARGE LIBRARY TABLE IN 1775 (CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES), WHILE PITOIN DELIVERED A PAIR OF STAG AND BOAR CHENETS AND THREE PAIRS OF WALL-LIGHTS WITH VASE FINIALS. SVRES WAS REPRESENTED WITH SIX VASES AND TWELVE BISCUIT GROUPS, WHILE A CLOCK, PROBABLY BY BREGUET, A PAIR OF CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL GLOBES (AT VERSAILLES), A MAHOGANY TABLE, AS WELL AS A TELESCOPE COMPLETED THE FURNISHINGS OF THE ROOM.
JEAN-HENRI RIESENER (1734 - 1806)
JEAN-HENRI RIESENER WAS BORN NEAR ESSEN IN THE RHINE REGION AND WAS THUS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY FRANCE. HE ENTERED THE ATELIER OF JEAN-FRANOIS OEBEN AND BECAME HIS SUCCESSOR IN EVERY SENSE, FOR HE MARRIED OEBEN'S WIDOW, NE VAN DER CRUSE, AND TOOK OVER THE WORKSHOP OF THE BNISTE DU ROI L'ARSENAL. MATRE ON 23 JANURAY 1768, HE BECAME BNISTE ORDINAIRE DU MOBILIER DE LA COURONNE IN 1774. BETWEEN 1774 AND 1784 HE SUPPLIED THE COURT WITH FURNITURE WORTH MORE THAN A MILLION LIVRES, NOT INCLUDING DELIVERIES TO THE PRIVATE GARDES-MEUBLES OF MARIE-ANTOINETTE, THE COMTE DE PROVENCE, THE COMTE D'ARTOIS, THE MESDAMES AND THE OTHER PRINCES. RIESENERS' SUPREMACY WAS ULTIMATELY ONLY HALTED BY A COMBINATION OF THE ARRIVAL OF THIERRY DE VILLE D'AVRAY AS DIRECTEUR DU GARDE-MEUBLE, THE RISING SUCCESS OF DAVID ROENTGEN AND HIS OWN COMPLACENCY, WHICH WAS FINALLY EXPOSED WITH THE ACCUSATION, JUSTIFIABLE AT THAT, OF BUYING HIS CABINETS IN THE FAUBOURG SAINT-ANTOINE FOR RESALE. IN 1778, THE YEAR HE SUPPLIED THIS COMMODE, HOWEVER, HE DELIVERED FURNITURE WORTH 104,947 LIVRES TO THE GARDE-MEUBLE.
HISTORY OF THE COMMODE
THE FIRST COMMODE OF THIS TYPE WAS SUPPLIED BY JEAN-HENRI RIESENER TO KING LOUIS XVI FOR HIS CABINET INTRIEUR AT THE CHTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU FOR 6,870 LIVRES ON 31 AUGUST 1776. TWO YEARS LATER, A FURTHER COMMODE WAS COMMISSIONED AND DELIVERED DURING A STAY OF THE KING AT FONTAINEBLEAU. IT WAS REGISTERED AS NUMBER 2958 ON 12 OCTOBER 1778 AND DESCRIBED IN THE JOURNAL DU GARDE-MEUBLE:
DU 12 DUDIT [OCTOBER 1778]. POUR SERVIR AU ROY DANS SON CABINET DE RETRAITE AU CHTEAU DE FONTAINEBLEAU 2958. - UNE COMMODE DE MARQUETRIE DESSUS DE MARBRE SERANCOLIN AYANT 5 TIROIRS FERMANS CLEF, LA MARQUETRIE COMPOSE DE 5 PANNEAUX DONT 4 MOSAQUE,
CELUI DU MILIEU FAISANT LE 5E REPRSENTANT UN TROPHE PASTORAL, LE TOUT EN PICES DE RAPORT, RICHEMENT ARN DE CONSOLES, GUIRLANDES,
SUPORTS, FRISES, MDAILLONS, ROSETTES, MOULURES ET CADRES DE BRONZE
CIZEL ET DOR D'OR MOULU, LONGUE DE 4 PIEDS 10 POUCES, 2 PIEDS DE PROFONDEUR ET 3 PIEDS DE HAUT.
IMAGE SL281, RL91 Q
THIS COMMODE WAS DELIVERED WITH A STILL UNIDENTIFIED SECRETAIRE.
IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY RECORDS FROM RIESENER, IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO ASSUME THAT THE COST OF THE COMMODE WAS IN THE REGION OF 7,400 LIVRES, THE AMOUNT PAID BY THE GARDE MEUBLE DU ROI FOR A SIMILAR COMMODE SUPPLIED TO THE COMTESSE DE PROVENCE (G. DE BELLAIGUE, THE JAMES A. DE ROTHSCHILD COLLECTION AT WADDESDON MANOR, FURNITURE AND GILT BRONZES, FRIBOURG, 1974, I, PP. 239-246, NO. 53).
THE KING WAS EVIDENTLY DELIGHTED BY THE PIECE, FOR IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME, IF IT WAS EVER PLACED IN ITS INTENDED LOCATION. IT WAS ALREADY LISTED IN A PARTIAL INVENTORY TAKEN OF VERSAILLES IN AUGUST 1779:
IMAGE SL281, RL91 S
ITS PRESENCE AT VERSAILLES IS THEREFORE CONFIRMED ONLY NINE MONTHS AFTER ITS DELIVERY TO FONTAINEBLEAU. THE COMMODE WAS THEN RETURNED TO FONTAINEBLEAU, BUT ON 14 APRIL 1784 IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO VERSAILLES AS LISTED IN THE GARDE MEUBLE:
ENVOY DU GARDEMEUBLE DE LA COURONNE M. FORTIN VERSAILLES POUR LE ROY, 2958 UNE TRS BELLE COMMODE DE MARQUETRIE ORNE DE BRONZE DOR D'OR MOULU DESSUS DE MARBRE DE 5 PIEDS 1/2 DE LONG SUR 22 POUCES DE PROFONDEUR ET 37 PO DE HAUT
THEREAFTER THE COMMODE REMAINED IN THE BIBLIOTHQUE OF KING LOUIS XVI UNTIL ITS SALE IN 1794. THE GENERAL INVENTORY OF THE FURNITURE OF THE CHTEAU IN 1785 (AN 0'3461 FOL 43) AND THEN THAT OF JANUARY 1787 (AN 0'3463 IN VOLUME FOL. 54) DESCRIBES IT IN DETAIL:
IMAGE SL281, RL91 T
NO 3463, INVENTAIRE GARDE-MEUBLE DU CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES
APPART DU ROI=1
FOL. 54: BIBLIOTHQUE
UNE COMMODE DE FORME ANTIQUE DESSUS DE MARBRE SRANCOLIN, DE 5 PIEDS DE LONG SUR 23 POUCES DE PROFONDEUR SUR 35 POUCES DE HAUTEUR CINQ TIROIRS PANNEAUX RENFORCS DONT TROIS PETITS PRIS DANS LA FRISE, ET LES FACES D'RABLES VERT; LES DEUX AUTRES TIROIRS PLACS L'UN AUDESSUS DE PANNEAUX, CELUI DU MILIEU REPRSENTE UN SOCLE DE FORME IDENTIQUE DONT LE FOND DE BOIS GRIS ET ORN D'UN VASE ET D'UNE CORBEILLE DE FLAURS ET FRUITS; LES DEUX AUTRES PANNEAUX CONTIGUES ET CEUX DES CTS DE LA DITE COMMODE ONT LES FONDS AUSSI DE BOIS GRIS CADRILLES OU LOZENGES DE BOIS SATIN. TOUS LES POURTOURS DES PANNEAUX, LES FACES DES PIEDS PANS COUPS, ET LES RESSAUTS PLAQUS DE BOIS D'AMARANTHE. LADITE COMMODE ORNE DE DEUX QUARTS DE ROND DONT UN CISELE D'ORNEMENTS, L'AUTRE MOULURES RUNIES, D'UNE FRISE COMPOSE D'ENROULEMENS ET ENTRELACS DE FEUILLES, GENRE ARABESQUE EN ROIS PARTIES, DE CINQ CADRES DEUX ORNEMENS, DEUX GUILANDES DE FEUILLES DE LAURIER, QUATRE ANNEAUX MOBILES ROSACES, UN GRAND RINCEAU, DEUX BOUTS DE BAGUETTES CISELS D'ORNEMENS: AUX DEUX CTS DU DIT RINCEAU, QUATRE CHUTES ET QUATRE FORTS CHAUSSONS: CES HUIT PICES FEUILLES D'ORNEMENS ET QUATRE PETITS CADRES OBLONGS SUR LES FACES DES PIEDS, LE TOUT DE BRONZE DOR D'OR MOULU.
ESTIMATED AT 3,600 LIVRES, THE COMMODE IS DESCRIBED FOR A LAST TIME IN 1792 IN THE INVENTORY OF THE ROYAL FAMILY'S POSSESSIONS, THEN STILL PLACED IN THE BIBLIOTHQUE OF THE KING (AN 013356 IN VOLUME I, FOL. 67). SITUATED OPPOSITE A FIREPLACE AND BELOW A MIRROR IT HAD DISPLAYED UPON IT A VALENCIENNES PORCELAIN GROUP OF THE DESCENT FROM THE CROSS, TWO GOLD CANDELABRA AND A SVRES PORCELAIN WATER EWER.
THE COMMODE REMAINED IN ITS LOCATION UNTIL IT WAS SOLD BY THE REVOLUTIONARY AUCTIONEERS ON 27 JUNE 1794 AS LOT 15,460:
UNE COMMODE EN BOIS DE PLACAGE ET SON DESSUS EN MARBRE D'ITALIE DE L'ARTICLE 1734 ATTENDU QUE LE DIT ARTICLE EST ESTIM AU DESSUS DE MILLE LIVRES, IL A T ARRT QU'IL SERAIT VENDU AUX FEUX...ADJUG 1,600 AU CY. (CITOYEN) DURAND
SEVERAL QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED, SUCH AS WHY THE COMMODE WAS MOVED AT LEAST TWICE BETWEEN FONTAINEBLEAU AND VERSAILLES BETWEEN 1779 AND 1784 AND WHAT WAS IN ITS PLACE AFTER THE BIBLIOTHQUE WAS COMPLETED IN 1775 UNTIL THE RIESENER COMMODE ARRIVED IN 1779?
HAMILTON PALACE
BARON NATHANIEL DE ROTHSCHILD ANNOTATED THE PRIVATE CATALOGUE OF HIS WORKS OF ART OF 1903 WITH THE INFORMATION THAT THIS COMMODE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE VERSTEIGERUNG HAMILTON; THIS MUST REFER TO THE CHRISTIE'S 1882 SALE OF THE CONTENTS OF HAMILTON PALACE, LANARKSHIRE. THE DISPERSAL OF THE HAMILTON PALACE COLLECTION - AMONGST THE GREATEST AUCTIONS OF FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART EVER CARRIED OUT - REVEALS THE PRINCELY TASTE OF THE FAMILY. HELD IN LONDON BETWEEN 17 JUNE AND 20 JULY 1882, ONLY 21 YEARS PRIOR TO BARON NATHANIEL'S NOTE, THE SALE COMPRISED 2,213 LOTS, INCLUDING OLD MASTER PAINTINGS, JAPANESE LACQUER, TAPESTRIES, COINS, MEDALS, GREEK VASES, RENAISSANCE BRONZES AND MEDIEVAL WORKS OF ART, ISLAMIC GLASS, LIMOGES ENAMELS, ARMS AND ARMOUR, AS WELL AS EUROPEAN AND ORIENTAL CERAMICS AND THE FINEST FRENCH FURNITURE. INCLUDED IN THE SALE WAS A COMMODE OF EXACTLY THIS TYPE (LOT 528), SIMILARLY MARKED WITH A ROYAL INVENTORY BRAND 'NO 2842' BUT WHOSE CENTRAL PANEL WAS INLAID WITH A FLORAL BOUQUET; THIS IS TODAY IN THE JAMES A. DE ROTHSCHILD COLLECTION AT WADDESDON MANOR (G. DE BELLAIGUE, FURNITURE, CLOCKS AND GILT BRONZES, FRIBOURG, 1974, P. 239, CAT. 53). ON FIRST GLANCE, THERE APPEARED TO BE NO FURTHER MENTION OF ANY COMMODE THAT COULD WITH CERTAINTY BE IDENTIFIED WITH THIS COMMODE, BUT LOT 517 BORE THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION:
517 A LOUIS XV. COMMODE, WITH PANELS OF PARQUETRY, AND PANEL OF MARQUETRY IN FRONT, WITH A VASE AND BASKET OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS, VERY RICHLY MOUNTED WITH FESTOONS OF FOLIAGE AND OTHER ORNAMENTS IN HIGH RELIEF. THE ROYAL CYPHER OVER THE KEYHOLE, SURMOUNTED BY A MOULDED BROCATELLE MARBLE SLAB - 4 FT. 4 IN. WIDE
ALTHOUGH UNILLUSTRATED, IT WAS BOUGHT BY E. JOSEPH FOR 3,213, WHILST THE WADDESDON COMMODE WAS, INTERESTINGLY, SOLD FOR CONSIDERABLY LESS AT 2,310 (TO WERTHEIMER, A DEALER). INTRIGUINGLY, THE 1882 DESCRIPTION WAS MANUALLY CORRECTED IN THE AUCTIONEER'S BOOK TO READ 'A LOUIS XVI COMMODE'.
E. JOSEPH WAS A DEALER WHO PURCHASED SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE SALE AND WHO SOLD THEM ON TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROTHSCHILD FAMILY, INCLUDING LOT 1001, A VERY UNUSUAL REGENCE LEAN-TO SECRTAIRE WHICH HE SOLD TO BARON FERDINAND DE ROTHSCHILD AND WHICH IS NOW ALSO AT WADDESDON MANOR (BELLAIGUE, OP. CIT., P. 269, CAT. 59). IT IS THEREFORE ALMOST CERTAIN THAT LOT 517 FROM THE HAMILTON SALE, WHICH WAS SOLD ON THE FIFTH DAY OF THE AUCTION, IS THIS COMMODE.
THIS IS BORNE OUT BY AN ENTRY IN THE 1876 INVENTORY OF HAMILTON PALACE (HAMILTON DISTRICT LIBRARY HEADQUARTERS, LANARKSHIRE):
INVENTORY OF THE FURNITURE, PICTURES, ARTICLES OF VERTU... AT HAMILTON PALACE 1876.
P. 19 [TAPESTRY ROOMS. SITTING ROOM.]
A CHEST OF TWO DRAWERS. OF INLAID WOODS, THE CENTRE PANEL REPRESENTS A SERPENT HANDLED VASE, A BASKET OF FRUIT, BATTLE AXE ETC. THE WHOLE ORNAMENTED WITH RICHLY GILT METAL WORK. ON THE LOCK THE DOUBLE 'L' SURMOUNTED BY A BROCATELLE MARBLE TOP 4FT 4 IN BY 24 IN.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT MISTAKE IN THE WIDTH MADE BY THE COMPILER OF THE INVENTORY IN 1876 IS REPEATED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE, SUGGESTING THAT THE CATALOGUE ENTRY WAS BASED ON THE LATTER.
WILLIAM BECKFORD AND THE 10TH DUKE OF HAMILTON
THE LEGENDARY COLLECTIONS AT HAMILTON PALACE WERE ASSEMBLED BY ALEXANDER DOUGLAS-HAMILTON, 10TH DUKE OF HAMILTON (D. 1852). IN 1810 HE MARRIED SUSAN EUPHEMIA, YOUNGER DAUGHTER AND HEIRESS OF WILLIAM BECKFORD AND HAMILTON EMBARKED ON THE REBUILDING OF HAMILTON PALACE ONLY THREE YEARS AFTER HE SUCCEEDED TO THE DUKEDOM IN 1819. HE PURCHASED 19 HIGHLY IMPORTANT PIECES IN THE SALE AT FONTHILL ABBEY IN 1823 (WHICH WAS HELD BY THE PURCHASER OF FONTHILL AFTER BECKFORD HAD SOLD THE ABBEY AND ITS CONTENTS IN 1822) AND THESE PURCHASES INCLUDED THE PAIR OF ARMOIRES ATTRIBUTED TO ANDR-CHARLES BOULLE THAT HAD BEEN ACQUIRED BY BECKFORD IN 1814 AND, ACCORDING TO HIS RECORDS, ONCE BELONGED TO THE DUC D'AUMONT (NOW IN THE MUSE DU LOUVRE AND ILLUSTRATED IN D. ALCOUFFE ET AL., FURNITURE COLLECTIONS IN THE LOUVRE, BAUME-LES-DAMES, 1993, PP. 84-85, CAT. 21). SUSAN EUPHEMIA INHERITED A FURTHER 88 PAINTINGS, IVORIES, ENAMELS, PORCELAINS, METALWORK AND THE LIKE, UPON HER FATHER'S DEATH IN 1844.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS RIESENER COMMODE WAS PURCHASED BY WILLIAM BECKFORD (1760 - 1844) IN PARIS SHORTLY AFTER THE REVOLUTION OR IN THE FIRST YEARS OF THE 19TH CENTURY. HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST COLLECTORS OF THE LATE 18TH EARLY 19TH CENTURY WHO AMASSED A PRODIGIOUS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS, BOOKS AND OBJETS D'ART FOR HIS ROMANTIC GOTHIC MANSION, FONTHILL ABBEY, WILTSHIRE, DESIGNED FOR HIM BY JAMES WYATT (D. 1812). OF HIS HUGH BOOK COLLECTION, HE DECLARED 'NOTHING SECOND-RATE ENTERS HERE'. IN 1822 HE HAD TO SELL FONTHILL, WHOSE GREAT TOWER COLLAPSED IN 1825. BECKFORD TRAVELLED REPEATEDLY TO PARIS TO PURCHASE ITEMS FOR HIS COLLECTION. HE SEEMS TO HAVE PARTICULARLY FAVOURED THE MAJESTIC NEO-CLASSICISM OF RIESENER'S WORK AND AMONG THE MANY PIECES BY THE ROYAL BNISTE WERE THE MAGNIFICENT BUREAU CYLINDRE THAT WAS SUPPLIED TO THE COMTE D'ORSAY AT THE HTEL D'ORSAY BY RIESENER CIRCA 1770 AND WHICH IS NOW IN THE WALLACE COLLECTION (P. HUGHES, THE WALLACE COLLECTION, CATALOGUE OF FURNITURE, LONDON, 1996, VOL. II, PP. 929 - 941, CAT. 191 (F102)), AND A SECRTAIRE AND COMMODE EN SUITE, BOTH SIGNED AND DATED 'RIESENER FE. 1790' AND 'RIESENER FE. 1791', RESPECTIVELY, WHICH WERE SUPPLIED TO MARIE-ANTOINETTE CIRCA 1783 - 1785 (TODAY IN THE FRICK COLLECTION AND ILLUSTRATED IN T. DELL ET AL., THE FRICK COLLECTION, NEW YORK, 1992, PP. 71 - 91). IT IS KNOWN THAT BECKFORD, WHO HAD SUPPORTED THE REVOLUTION AND WAS IN PARIS AT THE FALL OF THE BASTILLE IN 1789, RETURNED FROM OCTOBER 1790 TO JUNE 1791, NOVEMBER 1791 TO MAY 1793 AND AGAIN FROM MAY 1801 TO MAY 1803. IT WAS VERY POSSIBLY DURING THAT LAST TRIP THAT HE PURCHASED THIS COMMODE, BUT IT COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT BY HIS AGENT CAPTAIN NICHOLAS WILLIAMS, WHO, WHEN BECKFORD HAD TO FLEE PARIS WHEN UNDER THREAT OF ARREST IN 1793, TRAVELLED TO PARIS FOR HIM FROM JULY 1797 TO NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR. HE ALSO EMPLOYED THE BOOKSELLER AUGUSTE CHARDIN AFTER WILLIAM'S DEPARTURE AND FROM 1802 ALSO HIS FRIEND AND CONFIDANT CHEVALIER GREGORIO FRANCHI (D. 1828) FOR PURCHASES.
THE BIBLIOTHQUE OF LOUIS XVI
LOUIS XVI INITIATED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BIBLIOTHQUE IN THE CABINETS INTRIEURS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AT THE CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES SHORTLY AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS GRANDFATHER, KING LOUIS XV, IN MAY 1774. IT WAS BUILT BY JACQUES GABRIEL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SALON DES JEUX AND WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF THAT YEAR. THE LIBRARY CABINETS FOR THE BIBLIOTHQUE HAD BEEN SUPPLIED BY THE SCULPTOR ANTOINE ROUSSEAU, WHILST THE FIREPLACE WAS THAT WHICH HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO MADAME DE BARRY AT FONTAINEBLEAU BY BOIZOT AND GOUTHIRE. CAPIN SUPPLIED A SUITE OF SEAT-FURNITURE WITH WHITE AND GREEN CRIMSON DAMASK ON 14 JANUARY 1775 (NO. 4401) AND RIESENER, A LARGE LIBRARY TABLE IN 1775 (CHTEAU DE VERSAILLES), WHILE PITOIN DELIVERED A PAIR OF STAG AND BOAR CHENETS AND THREE PAIRS OF WALL-LIGHTS WITH VASE FINIALS. SVRES WAS REPRESENTED WITH SIX VASES AND TWELVE BISCUIT GROUPS, WHILE A CLOCK, PROBABLY BY BREGUET, A PAIR OF CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL GLOBES (AT VERSAILLES), A MAHOGANY TABLE, AS WELL AS A TELESCOPE COMPLETED THE FURNISHINGS OF THE ROOM.
JEAN-HENRI RIESENER (1734 - 1806)
JEAN-HENRI RIESENER WAS BORN NEAR ESSEN IN THE RHINE REGION AND WAS THUS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY FRANCE. HE ENTERED THE ATELIER OF JEAN-FRANOIS OEBEN AND BECAME HIS SUCCESSOR IN EVERY SENSE, FOR HE MARRIED OEBEN'S WIDOW, NE VAN DER CRUSE, AND TOOK OVER THE WORKSHOP OF THE BNISTE DU ROI L'ARSENAL. MATRE ON 23 JANURAY 1768, HE BECAME BNISTE ORDINAIRE DU MOBILIER DE LA COURONNE IN 1774. BETWEEN 1774 AND 1784 HE SUPPLIED THE COURT WITH FURNITURE WORTH MORE THAN A MILLION LIVRES, NOT INCLUDING DELIVERIES TO THE PRIVATE GARDES-MEUBLES OF MARIE-ANTOINETTE, THE COMTE DE PROVENCE, THE COMTE D'ARTOIS, THE MESDAMES AND THE OTHER PRINCES. RIESENERS' SUPREMACY WAS ULTIMATELY ONLY HALTED BY A COMBINATION OF THE ARRIVAL OF THIERRY DE VILLE D'AVRAY AS DIRECTEUR DU GARDE-MEUBLE, THE RISING SUCCESS OF DAVID ROENTGEN AND HIS OWN COMPLACENCY, WHICH WAS FINALLY EXPOSED WITH THE ACCUSATION, JUSTIFIABLE AT THAT, OF BUYING HIS CABINETS IN THE FAUBOURG SAINT-ANTOINE FOR RESALE. IN 1778, THE YEAR HE SUPPLIED THIS COMMODE, HOWEVER, HE DELIVERED FURNITURE WORTH 104,947 LIVRES TO THE GARDE-MEUBLE.