Estimate

65.000 - 80.000

Session 1

4 June 2025

Hammer Price

Description

Veneered in kingwood with quarter-veneered marquetry, framed by matching fillets and crossbanding in the same
Of gently serpentine form, with two long drawers, raised on curved legs
Richly adorned with gilt and finely chased bronze mounts in rocaille style, including corner mounts, sabots, handles and escutcheons – some bearing the “C couronné” mark (1745–1749)
Bearing on the back the inventory number of its delivery to the Garde-Meuble royal in 1748: “no. 1470/8”
Attributable to Gilles Joubert (1689–1775), ébéniste du roi from 1743 to 1764
France, 1748
(minor wear signs and restorations)

86x147x70 cm

Category

Furniture

Gilles Joubert: A work of exceptional Royal Provenance

The present commode is a remarkable example of mid-18th-century French ébénisterie, documented with precision and forming part of one of the earliest commissions by Gilles Joubert (1689–1775) for the Crown's Garde-Meuble. Its historical importance is unquestionable, confirmed by archival records preserved in the French National Archives and by the original inventory number marked on the back.
On 22 June 1748, the Journal du Garde-Meuble recorded under number 1470 the delivery “by Mr Joubert for Compiègne” of:
“eight commodes in rosewood veneer, with Rance marble tops, the fronts fitted with two large drawers with locks, escutcheons, handles and coloured bronze feet, measuring 4½ feet in length, 2 feet in depth and 32 inches in height” (Archives nationales, Maison du Roi, O/1/3314).
Seven of these commodes were destined for apartments in the Château de Compiègne, allocated to prominent figures in Louis XV’s inner circle: one for the Dauphin Louis of France (1729–1765); one for Madame Henriette (1727–1752); one for Madame Adélaïde (1732–1800); two for Madame Victoire (1733–1799); and two for the Marquise de Pompadour (1721–1764). The eighth, now offered at auction and marked 1470/8, was sent to Madrid, intended for the son of Gaspard-Moïse-Augustin de Fontanieu (1694–1767), the Crown’s Controller-General of Furniture.
The presence of the “C couronné” mark on some of the gilt-bronze mounts offers valuable dating evidence, confirming manufacture between 1745 and 1749, during which this tax on metal alloys was in effect. These marks, combined with the inventory number on the back and the Rance marble top—precisely as described in the original record—reinforce the authenticity of the piece and its attribution to Joubert’s workshop.
Gilles Joubert holds a central position among the ébénistes of Louis XV’s reign. Having attained master status during the Regency of Philippe d’Orléans (1715–1723), he established his workshop on the rue Sainte-Anne in Paris and quickly gained favour among the Parisian elite. He began working for the Garde-Meuble in 1748 and was officially appointed ébéniste du roi in 1763.
As is often the case with Joubert’s furniture, this commode bears no stamp. This absence is entirely expected: prior to 1751, stamping was not mandatory, and even after that date, it was waived for royal commissions. Accordingly, the attribution of this piece—like many others by Joubert—relies firmly on historical documentation, its original inventory number, and its technical and stylistic characteristics.
Works by Joubert are now held in some of the world’s most prestigious collections, including the Musée du Louvre, the Château de Versailles, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Wallace Collection in London.
In 2020, the Château de Fontainebleau reacquired a commode by Joubert originally made for the King’s chamber, paying one million euros and classifying it as a Trésor National. Although of a later date (1754) and more exuberant design, that acquisition highlights the growing institutional appreciation for documented works by this master of French furniture.
The commode offered here — of documented royal provenance, refined design, and exceptional craftsmanship — represents a rare opportunity to acquire an authenticated piece from the golden age of French cabinetmaking under Louis XV.

Literature:
Gilles Joubert (Getty Museum). Collection Online. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum. Última atualização em 21 de dezembro de 2023.
Château de Fontainebleau. La commode de la chambre de Louis XV de retour au château de Fontainebleau. Comunicado de imprensa, 29 de julho de 2020.
Journal du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne. Entrada de 22 de junho de 1748. Transcrição incluída em DM March 25 Catalogue, p. 91. Arquivos Nacionais de França, Maison du Roi, O/1/3314.

João Francisco Barreto