Lot 203Y
A George III kingwood parquetry, rosewood crossbanded and tulipwood banded serpentine commode attributed to Pierre Langlois
Amended
20 November 2013, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £11,250 inc. premium
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A George III kingwood parquetry, rosewood crossbanded and tulipwood banded serpentine commode attributed to Pierre Langlois
Applied with gilt bronze mounts, the shaped quarter-veneered top above two long drawers with espagnolette mask escutcheon plates and serpentine sides with pierced leaf cast corner mounts, trailing to scrolling leaf and pierced cabochon sabots, with possibly a poinçon C couronné mark stamped to the apron mount, 111cm wide, 63cm deep, 81cm high (43.5in wide, 24.5in deep, 31.5in high).
Footnotes
The attribution to Pierre Langlois (d.1787) is based on characteristics, stylistic and constructional, discussed in Group XII (Part 4) of P.Thornton & B.Rieder's series of pioneering articles, 'Pierre Langlois, Ébéniste', Connoisseur, April 1972.
Close comparison can be made between this commode and that of a pair of commodes at Sherborne Castle, Dorset (ibid, p.263-264 and fig. 17), which have the same corner, feet and apron mounts together with identical handles and the same mask-escutcheons. The 7th Lord Digby of Sherborne was a known patron of Langlois. In 1792 £12.12s was paid to 'Peter L'Anglois' (see G.Beard & C.Gilbert, The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, p.527. The Sherborne Castle commodes, along with this commode, belong to a large group of plain two and three drawer examples which have drawer fronts divided into panels. Another lot stamped with the 'crowned C' on near identical apron mounts has been found, (sold Sotheby's 13th December 1968, lot 121, which were a pair of commodes from the A.E.Pleydell-Bouverie Collection). This indicates perhaps that either the mounts on some commodes in this group were French (as the Sotheby's pair were catalogued) and made before 1749, or that they have mounts recast from an original.
Langlois mounts are usually attributed to his close friend, asssociate and son-in-law, the French emigré metalworker, Dominique Jean (fl.1764-d.1807).
A further Langlois characteristic of this commode is the black wash that is painted over the underside and back.
Other commodes referenced in this group include a pair of commodes sold Sotheby's 22nd February 1963, lot 114, a commode at Messrs. Spink and Son, London 1970, a commode at Messrs. H.Blairman and Sons, London 1958, a commode at Messrs. Gregory and Co., London 1970, illustrated in The Connoisseur, 1970, p.54 and a commode with Messrs. Mallett and Son, London 1969, illustrated in Connaissance des Arts, January 1969, p.8.
Further commodes attributed to Langlois, of the same type sold Christie's, New York, 7th June 2012, lot 20 (possibly the one listed above as it was acquired from Mallet, London, 8th September 1972), Christie's, London 2nd May 2002, lot 10, 27th November 2003, lot 79 and 19 November 1987, lot 112 and Phillips, London 14th June 1983, lot 102.
Saleroom notices
Please note: in the printed catalogue a star (*) appears to the side of the lot number, this is incorrect and what should appear is a 'y' to indicate that as this item contains rosewood it may be be subject to Cites if exported outside of the EU.