Commode Louis XV, signed “A. Criaerd”. France, mid-18th century.

Louis XV commode with a wavy front and convex sides, entirely veneered in “bois de violette” on oak and fir wood. Marble top in violacea breccia. Under the top, on the front left corner, the cabinet is stamped “A. Criaerd”. The chest of drawers is characterized by its sinuous line, its compact dimensions, the quality of the essences used, combined with the refined opulence of the mercury-gilt bronze decorations.

In the index of "Famous cabinetmakers", the Criaerds (or Criard, or Criaerd) are remembered as a family of artisans of Flemish origin, who moved to France in an undefined period and operated there during the 1738th century. Manufacturers of luxury furniture, they specialized in the creation of splendid furnishings characterized by sumptuous veneers combined with the splendor of gilded bronze, or in furniture with lacquer decoration inspired by the fashion of "chineseries", very popular in the Rococo period. The founder of the family atelier, which was based in rue Saint-Antoine, in the heart of Paris, was Mathieu, who received the title of Master Cabinetmaker in June 1748 and who in 1720 provided, among other things, a commode to the Dauphin of France. The work in question, bearing the stamp “A. Criaerd” is, however, the result of the work of his older brother, Antoine, whose activity is known from 1750 to XNUMX (see “Larousse Antiques Dictionary”).

Originally, the chest of drawers was part of the furnishings of the museum-foundation, located in rue de la Perle in Paris, of a historic French factory, specialized in the production of locks. This factory was purchased in 2001 by an Italian industrialist. The inventory drawn up by two French experts, operating in rue Drouot, who described the aforementioned commode in paragraph 8 and valued it at a good 60.000 francs, dates back to that time.

At the request of interested parties, the documentation demonstrating the truthfulness of the above statements will be produced.

We issue a certificate of authenticity of the furniture and of its lawful origin in accordance with the law.