A Dutch ormolu-mounted kingwood, tulipwood, burr-walnut, fruitwood and marquetry commode

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A Dutch ormolu-mounted kingwood, tulipwood, burr-walnut, fruitwood and marquetry commode

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PeriodWorkshop of Matthijs Horrix (1735-1809), The Hague, ca. 1765-1770DescriptionThe moulded and shaped grey marble top above a pair of bombé doors, inlaid with cartouche with flowers, C-scrolls and rockwork, on shaped legs ending in paw feet, and conformingly inlaid sides.One of the highlights of this collection that demonstrates the great potential of the effect of exotic wood inlay is this monumental commode – one that was made in the French tradition and exhibits many of its hallmarks, but is actually not French. This particular commode was made in the circle of the Dutch furniture maker Matthijs Horrix (1735-1809) (see next page). This German-born furniture maker travelled to The Hague in the 1760s, determined to bring a truly French style to the attention of the Dutch clientèle. Although at that time, locally produced pieces of furniture such as secretaires or cabinets were indeed embellished with the Louis XV style, this was essentially a translated style adapted to Dutch taste and tradition. French ornaments such as ‘rocaille’ and C-scrolls were applied in mouldings, mounts, and panels, though the execution, proportion and overall shape of the furniture stayed Dutch. Architecture and the decorative arts in The Hague, in particular, had already been influenced by French aesthetics during the first quarter of the eighteenth century. Through the figure of the French architect and designer Daniel Marot and his influence, an adapted Louis XIV style changed the design of various components of Dutch affluent life, from façades and hall benches to candlesticks and tea canisters. Matthijs Horrix wanted to go a step further, by executing designs that would be considered virtually French. Whereas the inventiveness and execution of gilt-bronze mounts had to be of higher quality than those produced by his Dutch peers, the intricacy of the wood inlay needed to equal that of the most recent pieces leaving the workshops of Paris. Since the Dutch ormolu-mounted commode featuring in this auction is of this high quality and bears several characteristics of Horrix's dedicated approach to furniture making, we can place this piece in his workshop. Surmounted by an elegant ‘bleu turquin’ marble top, the bombé-shaped body of the commode is richly decorated with inlaid flowers and scrolls, composed of kingwood, tulipwood, burr-walnut, fruitwood. Participating in the dynamic movement of this marquetry are the scrolling ormolu mounts applied to the front, corners, legs and feet.Dimensions89,5x140x69,5 cmLiteratureProvenance: - Acquired at Christie’s, London, by Pieter Hoogendijk, Baarn, on behalf of the present owner, 1989.- Property of a Dutch noble family.Literature: Reinier J. Baarsen, Aspecten van de Nederlandse meubelkunst in de tweede helft van de 18de eeuw, thesis, Vis Offset, Alphen aan den Rijn, 1993,’In de commode van Parijs tot Den Haag’, Matthijs Horrix, (1735 – 1809), een meubelmaker in Den Haag in de tweede helft van de achttiende eeuw’, p. 206, ill. Afb.43, p. 207 (this commode before restoration)Condition ReportThe interior lacking its (single middle) shelf, with restored (filled) opening to the back of the commode.