Thomas Moore
Head of Department
Lot 49TP,Y
A Regence ormolu mounted olivewood, rosewood, burr elm, walnut and chequer inlaid commode attributed to Thomas Hache (1664-1747)
Amended
27 November 2019, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £15,062.50 inc. premium
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A Regence ormolu mounted olivewood, rosewood, burr elm, walnut and chequer inlaid commode attributed to Thomas Hache (1664-1747)
Circa 1720, With stringing overall, the quarter veneered top inlaid with circular, demi-lune and shaped oval tablets centred by a segmentally veneered star, with a moulded gilt bronze edging, above three long drawers each inlaid with shaped cartouches and a central square tablet, flanked by rounded angles each headed with a twin-entwined sea creature, scallop shell mask, scrolled foliate and floral mount, over a shell, acanthus, scroll and cabochon embedded sabot clasp, each side inlaid with a lozenge tablet centred by a Hercules mask mount, with a shaped apron below mounted with an ormolu C-scroll, scrolled foliate and shell, the back inscribed in paint: 'B.G.', 131cm wide x 70cm deep x 85cm high, (51 1/2in wide x 27 1/2in deep x 33in high)
Footnotes
Provenance
The offered lot formerly belonged to the important Belgian collector Claude d'Allemagne (1917-1996). It was purchased from Claude d'Allemagne by the current vendor's family during the 1970s. This significant collector of European silver bequeathed his impressive collection to the Chateau de Seneffe where it is displayed in the Musee de l'Orfevrerie. The present vendor's uncle, an antique dealer called Francois who established the Chamarande gallery in 1976, was also a close friend of d'Allemagne.
Included among the commodes, either executed by or attributed to Thomas Hache, which are illustrated in P. Rouge & F. Rouge, Le Genie des Hache, 2005, Dijon, pp.'s 220-1 & 234-5, fig.'s 85, 86, 97 & 98, four examples dating to the period 1715-1725 are certainly comparable to the present commode. All of these employ the following loosely conforming characteristics as appear on the offered version: slightly bowfront shape and drawer configuration, shaped inlaid tablets to the top and drawer fronts, rounded angles, lozenge inlaid sides and the use of three or more contrasting but complimentary timbers.
The handles and escutcheons on the Hache commode, which is dated circa 1720, featuring in Rouge, ibid, p. 235, fig. 98, are very similar to those on the current model. While the incorporation of chequer inlaid borders and a mounted top edge moulding are both distinctive aspects on the circa 1715 example, p. 220, fig. 85, which directly relate to those elements found on the offered piece.
Saleroom notices
Important Notice - The present lot is not attributable to Thomas Hache but instead can be attributed to the School of Grenoble cabinet makers who were directly influenced by Hache.
