Description
This monumental Boulle commode was crafted by Robert Blake, one of the finest and most important English cabinetmakers of his time. It is modeled after the legendary pair of commodes made for France’s King Louis XIV by master ébéniste André-Charles Boulle, which is perhaps the most famous and esteemed of all the treasures now housed at the Palace of Versailles. Constructed of ebony and enveloped on all sides with phenomenal tortoiseshell and doré bronze marquetry and ormolu mounts of undeniable skill and artistry, this commode is the pinnacle of furniture craftsmanship.
The original commodes made by Boulle inspired re-interpretations by history’s most esteemed craftsmen. First created and supplied in 1708 by Boulle for Louis XIV’s bed chamber at Versailles, the original pair was one of only four furnishings deemed worthy enough to be rescued from both destruction and sale after the French Revolution. They were placed in the Bibliothèque Mazarine at the Institut de France, where they became known as the Mazarine Commodes, but have since been returned to Versailles.
The commode’s top features a striking example of rare Campan marble, sourced from quarries in the French Pyrenees. This exceptional stone exhibits a refined blend of green, pink, red and white veining—distinguished by its subtler red tones compared to Italian varieties. Reflecting Boulle’s masterful innovation, the marble top is designed to be removable, resting securely within a slightly recessed edge on the wooden frame. This meticulous construction ensures stability without the use of glue, preserving the integrity of the piece.
The Blake family of cabinet makers was known for their breathtakingly executed Boulle-style marquetry. Blake’s signed works are housed in the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection, at which one of the few similar pairs of commodes signed by Blake resides.
Signed Blake London inside a winged sphinx
Circa 1850
35“ high x 47 1/2” wide x 24“ deep (88.90 x 120.65 x 60.96 cm)
Provenance:
Important French Estate
Private Collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
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