1780
A Louis XVI Satinwood Console Desserte By R.V.L.C.
The rectangular console desserte has concave sides and a grey veined white marble top of conforming shape. The frieze which has an upper band of ormolu egg and dart moulding and a plain lower band, contains one long drawer bound with an ormolu border of water leaves and applied with a pierced ormolu panel of alternating husks and plain bands, the sides are similarly decorated. The two tapering fluted columns at the front have ormolu collars at the top and bottom and are united by a white marble shelf. The mirror plate at the back is flanked by two square fluted pilasters. On four top-shaped feet with ormolu tips. Stamped on the right back side, underneath the marble.
Illustrated
Partridge recent acquisitions 1995 no 48 p116
Roger Vandercruse Lacroix (became master in 1755)
Roger Vandercruse, known as R.V.L.C., was most noted for his intricately inlaid small tables and magnificent Louis XV and transitional commodes but he also successfully adopted the more restrained Louis XVI style. This piece is comparable to a pair of consoles dessertes by Saunier in the possession of the Earl of Spencer, (see F.J.B.Watson, Louis XVI furniture, 1960, no 145. Described by Daguerre simply as ‘consoles’ the Spencer pieces were delivered in 1786 at a cost of 1,920 livres. Watson comments: “This piece shows the last stage in the evolution of the commode A Encoignures when the drawers or shelves in the centre and the shelves at the ends have entirely disappeared leaving the front entirely open. Such pieces were sometimes referred to as ‘Commodes Servantes’
For many years only known by his stamp RVLC. He was a member of the most important furniture making dynasty of the 18th Century. The son of an independent cabinet maker, Lacroix was related through marriage to Jean Henri Riesener and Jean Francois Oeben. Through the intermediary of the Court cabinet maker, Giles Joubert, Lacroix produced work for the crown during the early 1770’s. His work can be seen in all the major Museums such as the Louvre, Versailles, The Getty collection and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Measurements
| Dimensions | CM | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Width: | 119 | 47 |
| Depth: | 46 | 18 |
| Height: | 88 | 35 |