Dalva Brothers Antiques, Antique Furniture, New York

French 18th century furniture, clocks, lighting, paintings, porcelain, sculpture and tapestries

Louis XV marquetry commode signed Hansen and Saunier. The bombé commode has elaborate marquetry depicting flowers and birds.  The front, containing 2 drawers sans traverse, is very finely veneered with a large central cartouche marquetried with a panel depicting tropical birds on floral branches.  The cartouche is crested by a stylized fleur-de-lis and has a bat-wing motif at the bottom.  The central cartouche is flanked by two reserves depicting birds on branches that issue from the central bouquet and which travel under and through the framing motifs.  Each well shaped side is marquetried with flowering branches in a cartouche. The commode is mounted with unusual well chased two piece ormolu chutes and sabots. (Replaced marble top)

Signed: M. Hansen and J.B. Saunier

Virtually identically marquetried encoignures, signed Hansen, were sold in Paris – 11 March 1991.  See Le Guide Argus des Meubles 1992:  Pages 150-151.