Antique Louis XV chest of drawers with fire-gilt fittings

Dimensions: H x W x D: 85 x 132 x 64 cm

Description:
Very beautifully crafted and absolutely collectible French chest of drawers from the mid-18th century with fittings of outstanding quality.

The body stands on flared feet with five drawers in three rows. The two lower drawers each extend across the full width. The top row is divided into three drawers, whereby the narrow centre drawer is not obvious and can only be unlocked from the inside when the right-hand drawer is fully pulled out.
The body of the piece of furniture is strongly curved and arched, not only on the front, but also on the sides and the pilaster strips.
The marquetry is visually restrained because it is the same colour everywhere, but no less elaborate for that. Tension is created here by the diagonal grain patterns, which are framed twice on the drawers and form large squares on the sides.
The dark wood forms the perfect backdrop for the beautifully preserved fire-gilded fittings. The fittings were not only cast in very good quality, but were also finely chiselled by hand.

The grey veined marble plate is loosely applied. The COULON stamp signature can be found underneath.

The back and top of the body are made in a frame and panelled construction typical of the time and region. The dust shelves between the drawers are another example of the high manufacturing quality.

Interesting facts:
The brothers Gaspard and Jean-Francois Coulon were already running an exclusive furniture shop on Rue Princesse in the Faubourg Saint-Germain district of Paris before 1740. The shop with the name "La Toilette Royale" enjoyed a very good reputation and the cash register also listed important personalities such as the Duke of Chevreuse, the Duke of Villeroy, the Princess of Conti, the Prince of Condé in Chantilly, the Duke of Bouillon and the Countess of Montmorency as customers.
In addition to their own works, the Coulons also offered products by other well-known ebenists such as Jacques Bircklé, Nicolas Jean Marchand, Philippe Claude Montigny and Pierre Falconet.
As both brothers signed their own works without the initials of their first names, it is difficult to determine who the creator of the chest of drawers offered here is. And as the Coulons also had the right to stamp other pieces of furniture they offered, one of the aforementioned ebenists may well have been the executing master.
What is certain is that the piece of furniture was sold at "La Toilette Royale". This is confirmed by both the authentic stamping and the outstanding quality of the furniture.

Condition:
Restored condition suitable for everyday use. Excellent original condition of the fire gilding. The lock of the centre drawer has been replaced.

Price: 9500,- €