Getty Museum

Commode

Creator

French Artist · 1691–1754

Maker

In 1749, over two thousand bronze ornaments and models, as well as tools, were discovered in Jean-Pierre Latz's workshop and seized at the instigation of the bronze-casters' guild. He had violated strict guild regulations, which forbade non-guild members from producing gilt bronze mounts in their workshops, and he was eventually prosecuted for this infraction. Latz had come to Paris from Cologne,

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Date: about 1745–1749
Medium: White oak and poplar veneered with bloodwood; drawers of white oak and walnut; brass and iron locks; gilt-bronze mounts; fleur de pêcher marble top
Culture: French
Department: Decorative Arts
Institution: Getty Museum

Graceful shapes and curves characterize the sophisticated design of this commode. It has bombé front and sides, a distinctive wave-like patterned decorative veneer, and gilt-bronze mounts in the form of leafy scrolls and foliated vines. It houses two drawers, each with two handles that are cleverly incorporated into the vine-like forms of the mounts. Although this commode is not stamped with a cabinetmaker’s name, it is attributed to Jean-Pierre Latz because his stamp is found on another commode of the same design. Latz was an expert marquetry craftsman and the technical quality of his marquetry is consistently high. The strongly grained veneer on this commode is particularly difficult to achieve. It is formed by cutting through a log at a sharp angle so that the pattern of the wood grain is elongated. The separate pieces are then arranged side by side in alternating directions in order to create the wave-like design.

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