Riekstabrūces Bombé Chest of Drawers with Mascaron Bronze and Red Marble — Louis XV Style, France/Belgium, c. 1860–1890 (6111)

📐 DIMENSIONS Height 90.5 cm × width 142 cm × depth 53 cm.

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Burl Walnut Chest of Drawers with Mascaron Bronze Applications and Red Marble Top — Regency / Louis XV Style, France or Belgium, c. 1860–1890

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🏛️ PERIOD OF MANUFACTURE, ART STYLE, ERA

This grandly sized chest of drawers is one of the most exquisite examples of furniture from the Belle Époque period, made around 1860–1890 in France or Belgium as a high-class synthesis of the Regency (Régence) and Louis XV styles — two of the most outstanding furniture styles of the 18th century in one, surprisingly harmonious object.

The bombé silhouette — the characteristic outward bulging “balloon” shape, creating a sinuous, breathing volume on both the front and sides — is the stylistic heart of the Louis XV and Regency periods. This chest of drawers fills this shape with maximum decorative intensity: two wide drawers veneered in burl walnut with filet inlay, framed by a massive repertoire of bronze applications — figural handles with female (hermès) busts in jester hats and knightly helmets, central cartouche applications with rocaille and floral motifs, and between them — vertically along the sides — a sculptural bronze scroll with a mascaron face, a floral urn, cascades of acanthus leaves, and griffin elements. The lower apron features a central bronze mascaron with the bearded male face of a Silenus type and wide acanthus scrolls — one of the bronze compositions on the chest of drawers with the highest plastic quality.

The Belle Époque era was the most splendid period for the production of such items — wealthy bourgeoisie from Paris to Brussels and Berlin demanded furniture that rivaled 18th-century originals in both size and richness of bronze. This chest of drawers achieves that.

Edgar Degas painted In a Café (L’Absinthe) in 1876 — and Paris was still living in beauty, displaying it in every corner of the salon. A chest of drawers like this could have stood under a large mirror in a wealthy dining room — with a vase of flowers on it, a silver candelabra, and a calling card on a tray.

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⚜️ MANUFACTURER AND WORKSHOP MARK

Inside the drawer, there is a small gilded factory plaque — possibly a manufacturer’s or dealer’s mark, which needs to be read in person. The item was created in a high-class or Belgian ébénisterie workshop. This is evidenced by several elements: the set of bronze applications is extremely extensive and executed with high sculptural quality — the hermès handles with individualized faces, knightly motifs, and jester hats are expressive and detailed; the vertical bronze scroll at the corners with a mascaron and floral urn requires complex fondeur-ciseleur craftsmanship. The red marble top (rouge royal or rouge du Nord type) with a wavy profile is original — its dark wine-red tone with white and sandy streaks forms a perfect contrast to the warm golden-orange color of the burl walnut veneer and the dark patina of the bronze. Belgium and France were the main European producers of commodes-à-bombé in the highest quality segment in the second half of the 19th century.

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💎 RARITY AND SIGNIFICANCE

A bombé chest of drawers of this size (width 142 cm) with such richness of figural bronze applications, an original red marble top, and a complete set of mascaron, hermès, and rocaille bronzes — is one of the rarest and most sought-after types of Belle Époque furniture by collectors. At Parisian and London auction houses (Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Drouot), chests of drawers of this type with a full bronze set and original marble achieve high results. This particular chest of drawers stands out for its bronze hermès handles — the type of female figures with knightly and jester hat motifs has direct parallels in 18th-century Regency originals, indicating a highly erudite client or workshop.

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🕯️ APPLICATION IN INTERIORS, DESIGN, AND PHOTOGRAPHY

This chest of drawers is a monumental centerpiece — it defines the character of a space on its own. Ideal as a central accent in a spacious living room, a representative dining room, or a gallery; as a base under a large gilded mirror or oil painting; as a console table in a representative institutional lobby. The width of 142 cm provides ample surface area — sufficient for a large floral bouquet, decorative objects, or candelabra. Interior designers use the combination of red marble and burl walnut as a “royal accent” — it resonates with tones of burgundy, gold, and dark oak. For photography — a main hero object for any luxury or heritage styling; a close-up of the bronze mascaron and hermès is a photographic masterpiece in itself.

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🎁 GIFT AND PERSONALIZATION

This chest of drawers is a representative gift at a diplomatic or corporate level — suitable for an ambassador’s residence, a significant museum, or as a main exhibit in a private collection. Its absolute quality of finish and monumentality make it an immortal gift for anyone who lives or works in a truly classic space.

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🔍 CONDITION

The chest of drawers is preserved in very good condition. The red marble top is original, with a natural patina of age and minor surface wear consistent with the item’s age; without critical damage. The burl walnut veneer has a natural patina and minimal signs of use. The set of bronze applications is complete, original, with a dark bronze patina; all mascaron, hermès, and rocaille elements are intact. The drawers function. A small manufacturer’s/dealer’s plaque is visible inside the drawer. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.

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