CIRCA 1720

Interestingly this elegant commode employs several distinctive models of mounts by Charles Cressent, (1685-1768 marchand-ébéniste and sculpteur), who in contravention of guild rules cast and gilt his own furniture mounts, sometimes even supplying the casters with models which he had created himself. The apron mount, rear angle mounts, central escutcheons and sabots are all mounts that are found on commodes by Cressent (see A. Pradère, Charles Cressent, Dijon, 2003, pp. 273-289.) As he did not produce furniture veneered exclusively in amaranth but employed combinations of bois satiné, amaranth and tulipwood parquetry, this piece would seem to be by one of Cressent's close contemporaries rather than by Cressent himself.