18th-century commode in rosewood and amaranth veneer from Fontainebleau.

France, Louis XVI period. Stamped by Jean-Chrysostome Stumpff. Rosewood. Grey Sainte Anne marble. Provenance: Delivered by Gilles Joubert to the Crown's Garde Meuble for the King's service at Fontainebleau. Characteristic of what is referred to as transitional furniture, this chest of drawers features a geometric design, favouring lines and right angles while retaining curved feet, rounded uprights, and a slightly protruding central section. It is adorned with a precious marquetry decoration of rosewood in amaranth frames and Greek friezes. Each rosewood panel is veneered in butterfly wing pattern. It boasts a rich set of chiselled and gilded bronze fittings including a lock plate, handles, escutcheons, and lion paw feet. The chest opens with two large drawers and retains its original thick moulded grey Sainte Anne marble, uncut (overhanging at the back to rest against a low woodwork). History: From the Transitional period, this chest is stamped Stumpff and bears (on the back and on the marble) the inventory number of the Château de Fontainebleau FN 834 as well as another crossed out. This chest was delivered to the Garde-Meuble, along with another, by the King's cabinetmaker, Gilles Joubert, on 4 October 1773 "for the King's service at Fontainebleau"; here is the description given at the time: "No. 2713. Two chests of Indian wood with Flemish marble tops, one 4 feet long and the other 3 and a half feet long" (AN, O1 3319). For this delivery, Joubert had subcontracted with Stumpff. In the 1787 inventory of the Château de Fontainebleau, the chest is located in the room of Pigrais's wife, an agent of the Garde-Meuble.