Paris, around 1750
stamped Jean-Charles Saunier (Master since 1743)
The powerfully curved chest of drawers is veneered with lush floral marquetry, which decorates the body with its large flowers on a beautifully grained ground in curved frames.
Both drawers merge “sans travers” in their movement and refined decoration. The strongly backward curved sides conceal the imposing size of this elegant piece.
The Saunier family of artists was one of the best-known furniture makers in the exclusive Parisian furniture scene.
Jean-Charles Saunier worked in his father's workshop in the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine and was also frequently commissioned by colleagues. This particularly high-quality chest of drawers could also be a delivery to his colleague Jean-François Oeben, who in turn often delivered to the cabinetmaker Jean-Pierre Latz (1691-1754). Several high-quality chest of drawers by the Saunier family have been preserved in public collections.
Provenance: Old private collection, Geneva; Sotheby's Zurich auction, December 10, 1997, lot 795 (figure on catalog cover); Swiss private collection
Oak, veneered with rosewood, amaranth, satinwood, ebony and rosewood, original fittings in fire-gilt bronze, original top in marble Rouge de France.
Height: 87 cm, width: 147 cm, depth: 61 cm