Bombé Commode with Marquetry, Marble, and Ormolu | Louis XV Style, France

• Structurally inspected
• Adjusted and reinforced where necessary
• Furniture ready for use

The marble top on a chest of drawers serves a practical purpose: it holds water-filled vases, lamps, and glasses, and the stone withstands what veneer cannot. Everything else is a matter of drawers: they must be deep, glide smoothly, and close properly.

This marquetry chest was made in France around the mid-20th century, following the model of 18th-century Louis XV commodes: a bombé front and sides, three drawers, cabriole legs, and rocaille ormolu mounts. It is not an 18th or 19th-century piece, nor is it presented as such. We chose it for the quality of its veneer and the marble.

It is veneered in fine woods in two tones. Each drawer features a light-colored reserve with herringbone-patterned veneer, outlined with stringing and framed in a darker wood. On the sides, four sheets of veneer are book-matched to form an X. The drawer fronts are undulating, following the line of the marble.

The top is made of brecciated marble in shades of cream, ochre, and mauve, with a molded edge. The bronzes: two rocaille handles and an escutcheon per drawer, shell-shaped corner mounts, a fillet descending the edge of each front leg, sabots, and an openwork motif in the center of the apron. The drawers are made of oak, joined with dovetails, and lock with a key.

135 cm wide, 56 cm deep, and 91 cm high. In a bedroom, it is a primary chest of drawers with room for linens and clothing. In a living room, it occupies a wall beneath a painting or mirror. In an entryway, it requires width: with a 56 cm depth, it is better suited to a spacious foyer than a narrow hallway. It weighs 70 kg including the marble.

WHAT WE LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS PIECE

→ The herringbone veneer. Each reserve is composed of sheets cut diagonally and book-matched along the axis of the drawer, so the grain creates a herringbone pattern that shifts tone with the light. The axis aligns with the escutcheon on all three drawers.

→ The sides. Four sheets book-matched in an X within an undulating reserve, set on a surface that is also curved. It is the least visible part of the chest, yet it is as intricately worked as the front.

→ The marble. Breccia in cream, ochre, and mauve, cut to follow the undulating line of the front with a molded edge. It has small nicks at the corners—the signs of a well-used top.

→ The oak drawers. When pulled out, the oak sides and their dovetail joints are visible. They slide well and lock with a key.

RESTORED IN OUR WORKSHOP IN NAVALCARNERO, MADRID

A complete structural review was performed, and each drawer was worked on individually until all three opened and closed without friction. The locks were adjusted and function with their key.

No color or stain was applied in the workshop: the veneer, varnish, and bronzes are original from France. The structure is sturdy, and the drawers glide smoothly. The marble retains small nicks at the corners, and the bronzes keep their patina, with some verdigris on the sabots.

Style: Louis XV
Material: Two-tone fine wood veneer; oak drawers; breccia marble top; bronze
Technique: Geometric marquetry: herringbone veneer on drawers and cross-pattern on the sides, with stringing
Finish: Original high-gloss varnish; no workshop color restoration
Hardware: Bronze drawer pulls, escutcheons, corner mounts, leg mounts, sabots, and apron motif; locks with keys
Layout: Three full-width drawers with locks
Dimensions: 135 cm (Width) × 56 cm (Depth) × 91 cm (Height)
Condition: Firm structure, drawers and locks in working order; minor nicks on the corners of the marble
Period: Mid-20th century

135 cm (Width) × 56 cm (Depth) × 91 cm (Height)

Free shipping to mainland Spain. Includes indoor delivery with packaging removal.