The moulded white marble top with concave sides above a Vitruvian scroll frieze disguising three frieze drawers over two doors enclosing a shelf on toupie feet, spuriously stamped J.H. RIESENER
40¹⁄₄ in. (102 cm.) high; 79¹⁄₂ in. (202 cm.) wide; 26³⁄₄ in. (68 cm.) deep

Palácio Sobralinho, Lisbon.

‘O Palácio do Sobralinho’, Casa e Jardin, No. 125, August 1988, p. 81 (the dining room).

Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square ( ¦ ) not collected from Christie’s, 8 King Street, London SW1Y 6QT by 5.00pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Crozier Park Royal (details below). Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite.If the lot is transferred to Crozier Park Royal, it will be available for collection from 12.00pm on the second business day following the sale.Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Crozier Park Royal. All collections from Crozier Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only.Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com.If the lot remains at Christie’s, 8 King Street, it will be available for collection on any working day (not weekends) from 9.00am to 5.00pm
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Please note this lot is the property of a consumer. See H1 of the Conditions of Sale.

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Lot Essay

The present commode is a copy of the celebrated pair supplied by Jean-Henri Riesener (maître in 1768; d. 1806) in 1786 for the Salon des Nobles de la Reine at Versailles. Furnished until 1785 with Louis XIV's original decor, the room was completely refurbished by Marie-Antoinette, the painted ceiling by Michel Corneille being the only original decoration to remain. The marble walls were replaced with gilt dado panels hung with apple-green silk, whilst the marquetry commodes were substituted with the two by Riesener, together with a pair of matching encoignures.

The commode offered here differs slightly from the Riesener original as it has doors instead of drawers. A near pair with drawers were sold Christie's, London, 1 October 2002, lot 276 (£45,410) and a single sold Christie's, London, 17 March 2011, lot 86.