A Dutch gilt bronze mounted marquetry commode, The Hague circa 1765-1770

with a nero e bianco marble top above two bombé doors with floral marquetry decoration opening to reveal one shelf

This commode of good scale has small losses to veneers and marks and scratches throughout; there are shrinking cracks to door now repaired, some repaired veneers, small lifting of veneer by the key hole, the brassware has been replaced as well as the lock. Later marble top in good condition with only a small chip to rear corner to note. The interior has had a hi-fi system and the carcass has been drilled in several places in order to accommodate it - back board with holes for electrical cables, as well as the bottom; a small vertical shelving has been fitted inside. Detailed photographs available upon request.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Reiner Baarsen, Andries Bongen (ca 1732-1792) en de Franse invloed op de Amsterdamse kastenmakerij in der tweede helft van de achttiende eeuw, Oud Holland, The Netherlands Institute for Art History,1988,no. 102, pp. 35-41.     
Reiner Baarsen, Nederlandse Meublen 1600-1800, Amsterdam, 1993, p. 11, no. 52.
Reiner Baarsen, `In de commode van Parijs tot Den Haag, Matthijs Horrix (1735-1809), een meubelmaker in Den haag in de tweede helft van de achttiende eeuw’, Oud Holland, The Netherlands Institute for Art History, 1993, no. 107, pp. 161-255.
Reiner Baarsen, et al., Rococo in Nederland, Amsterdam 2001, p. 297, p. 299, p. 301.

This rare commode with two doors inlaid with naturalistic marquetry together with the finely cast gilt-bronze mounts epitomises the skill of Dutch cabinet-makers, working  in the Hague, imitating the French rococo style in the 1760’s and 1770’s. At the same time, this commode demonstrates the Dutch tradition for floral marquetry following on from the outstanding 17^th century Dutch marqueteurs such as van Meckeren and Pierre Gole. From 1765 onwards, cabinet-makers in several Dutch towns began to imitate French marquetry furniture. It is interesting to note that French furniture was so sought after in Amsterdam in the 18^th century, that in 1771 a strict ban was imposed on its importation to protect local cabinet-makers.

Two outstanding  Dutch cabinet-makers can be considered as the possible authors of this commode: Matthijs Horrix (1735-1809) and Adries Bongen (ca. 1732-1792). The Hague was the centre for this production and a leading exponent of this type of sophisticated serpentine bombé commode with a low apron and flared sides was Matthijs Horrix, who was of German origin. In 1767, he delivered to Stadholder Prince William V and Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia, upon the occasion of their marriage, his first French style furniture to the Court, in the Hague, amongst which was a large commode with two doors in the side which was a model he produced in large quantities.

It is worthwhile considering a commode by Horrix, now in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, illustrated by Baarsen, op. cit., p. 111, no. 52, inlaid with floral marquetry with almost identical corner mounts. The design of the concave-cut corners on the doors of the Rijksmuseum commode is typical of Horrix, which is also present on the offered commode.  Also see for example, a commode with two doors in parquetry with concave-cut corners offered for sale Sotheby’s, Amsterdam, 21^st November 2007, lot 210. Furthermore, a mahogany commode stated to be by the workshop of Horrix, also with these concave-cut corners, was offered for sale Christie’s, Amsterdam, 15^th and 16^th December 2008, lot 367.

Adries Bongen is another possibility as the maker of this commode. Commodes by Bongen are extremely rare and it is recorded that in the Amsterdamsche Courant of 4th December 1766, he placed an advertisement describing three pieces of furniture `in the French manner’.  A commode signed by Bongen with a flower-filled vase on the front, with very similar corner mounts was removed from Chirk Castle, Wrexham, Clywd and sold in these Rooms, 13th June 1997, lot 21. Baarsen, Rococo in Nederland, op. cit., p. 299, illustrates another floral marquetry commode signed by Bongen, with very similar corner mounts to those on the offered commode.
The gilt-bronze mounts on this commode and others by both Horrix and Bongen were rarely produced in Holland. The mounts used by Horrix were almost all made in England, probably in Birmingham. Many of the mounts can be found in engravings in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, some of which are illustrated by Baarsen, Rococo in Nederland, op. cit., p. 301, plates 192A and 192B, in particular the design for corner and handle mounts can be seen which are very similar to those on the offered commode.

Finally, Baarsen illustrates in his 1993 article, op. cit., p. 207, fig. 43, a floral marquetry commode very similar to this one, with two doors and concave-cut corners and very similar scrolled and foliate banding with almost identical handle and knee mounts, stated to be Dutch, (the Hague?), circa 1765-1770.