Alfred-Emmanuel-Louis Beurdeley 1847-1919 A Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted burr ambonya, ebony and ebonized commode after the celebrated model by Stockel and Benneman Paris, circa 1875

surmounted by a Blanc Veiné de Carrare marbel top, three frieze drawers, one shelf to each of the three cupboards, the large majority of the bronze mounts with the BY mark from the bronze master model

D. Alcouffe, Furniture Collection in the Louvres, Vol 1, p. 296-7 for illustrations of the 18th century model by Benneman; C. Payne, François Linke, p. 200, for a Linke black and white cliché
of the original commode by Guillaume Benneman at the Louvre;
P. Verlet, Le Mobilier Royal Français, Vol. I, p. 244 and P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle, 2002, p. 54-65 for illustrations of the 18th century model by Benneman.

Overall in good condition with the usual minor scratches, dents and nicks to veneers and carcass consistent with age and use. Tarnishing to gilt-bronze in places. The marble with the usual minor chips to edges, scratches to surface consistent with age and use. The bronze finely cast and chased in keeping with the Beurdeley workshop. the the frieze drawers four vertical fruiting bronze mounts are recent replacements.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The original model is now in the Louvre Museum in Paris (inv. OA 5507) to where it had been transferred in 1870 from the Mobilier national. Originally made in 1786 by Joseph Stockel for the Comte de Provence, it and its companion pieces were altered by Guillaume Benneman intended for Louis XVI's bedchamber at Compiegne. Much admired by Napoleon Bonaparte, it was in his salon in 1807 and later in his bedchamber.

Alfred Beurdeley (1808-1882) specialized in reproducing the most magnificent articles from the Garde Meuble National. The firm exhibited and won awards at all of the major international exhibitions during the second half of the 19th century. The quality and skill employed in production was of exceptional quality. The firm produced hand-chased and mercury gilded ormolu mounts, which were often difficult to distinguish from late 18th century examples, and were considered the finest in Paris. The firm was pioneered by Jean Beurdeley (1772-1853), later managed by his son Louis-Auguste-Alfred, and who finally imparted it to his son Alfred-Emmanuel-Louis in 1875. The firm was established at 32 Rue Louis-Le-Grand, and also owned pavillion de Hanovre, where the firm was based while Alfred-Emmanuel-Louis added two additional workshops at 20 and 24 Rue Dautancourt. The company's workshops closed in 1895 and Beurdeley's stock was sold at a number of auctions conducted by the Galerie Georges Petit of Paris. Two auction catalogues of the collection were published in 1895 and sales were held between March 6-8 and May 27-28, of that year.