Chest of Drawers (Commode)
Jean Henri Riesener
1770–1780
- Medium
- Oak, mahogany, kingwood, purple heart, and other woods, gilded bronze, and marble
- Dimensions
- 96.3 × 157.5 × 59.1 cm (37 7/8 × 62 × 23 1/4 in.)
- Genre
- case furniture
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Tags
european decorative artsplant materialFurniturewood (plant material)case furnituremahogany
About
This commode features ornate inlaid-wood floral designs and crisp gilded-bronze mounts. These adornments are the work of celebrated cabinetmaker Jean-Henri Riesener, who was appointed ébéniste ordinaire du roi (cabinetmaker to the king) under Louis XVI. Riesener’s inlaid veneers include many types of wood, which he often enhanced with stains to create the impression of realistically painted flowers. These colors have faded over time, but the intricate inlaid composition remains.
