Description:

An Extraordinary French 19th Century Finely Chased Gilt-Bronze Mounted Marquetry and Parquetry Commode with Sarancolin Marble top, by Guillaume Grohé, Paris, Circa: 1870

Height: 48 inches (122 cm)
Width: 61 3/4 inches (157 cm) Depth: 23 1/4 inches (59 cm)

REF: A524 .

INFORMATION ABOUT THE CABINET-MAKER:

Guillaume Grohé was of German origin and established his first workshop with his brother Jean-Michel in Paris in 1827. In 1829 they opened an enterprize at 107, rue de Grennelle, which specialized in making and selling furniture and objets d'art of extraordinary quality.

The business grew quickly bringing them terrific success and financial rewards. Their work became amongst the best the best and most sought after in Paris in the 19th century. The firm exhibited regularly at a series of International exhibitions, which started in 1851. Perhaps their most celebrated commission was to refurnish the Imperial apartments in the Louvre, for Napoleon III and Princess Eugenie.

Queen Victoria and Louis-Philippe also purchased many pieces of furniture from the firm that are currently at Buckingham Palace. A Contemporary commentary bears witness to the popularity the firm enjoyed, "la prépondérance du goût français dans l'ameublement de luxe et les modèles que son beau talent a crées assurent pour longtemps à notre pays cette glorieuse suprematie artistique". Translation: "the preponderance of the French taste in the furnishing of luxury and the models that its beautiful talent create will ensure for a long time our country's glorious artistic supremacy"

This piece is typical of the way Grohé used and eighteenth century vocabulary of form and in particular his predilection for the work of Jean-Henri Riesener, 1734–1806.

An identical piece is illustrated at Denise Ledoux Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIXe Siècle, p245. A similar pair of cabinets by Grohé were sold at Sotheby's London, lot 213, 4th October 1996.