Each with serpentine verde antico tops with giallo di Siena stepped moulded frieze, above two drawers with foliate escutcheons, the legs and apron crossbanded and with chanelled angles terminating in ball-and-claw feet, the sides conformingly decorated and of distinctive bombe form, the reverse of each with branded inventory mark of a crowned N within a circle for Napoleon, and the initials 'M.R' (Mobilia Reale), and with label of Eugenio Imbert, the underside of one commode with inventory label 'DUCATO DI GALLIERA / Inventario 1837. / N.', with further label 'Palazzo R. di Bologna / Appart. del vicere / Camera N. 140 / N. 849' to the underside of both commodes
35¹⁄₄ in. (89.5 cm.) high; 56 in. (143 cm.) wide; 24 in. (61 cm.) deep

Almost certainly acquired by Napoleon in 1806 for the Palazzo Caprara, Bologna.
Given to Josephine de Beauharnais, Duchess of Galliera, later Queen of Sweden and Norway, in the Palazzo Caprara, called Palazzo Reale di Bologna.
Acquired along with the Duchy of Galliera by Raffaele di Ferrari in 1837.
With Eugenio Imbert, Milan.

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Lot Essay

With their boldly bombe fronts, serpentine sides and elegant cabriole legs these commodes can be identified as Roman and relate in form to the work of Giovanni Ermans. The use of richly figured burr walnut, rather than the marquetry more frequently associated with Ermans, places particular emphasis on the sculptural quality of the form. A commode of similar form but with floral marquetry and marble top was sold Christie's London, 8 December 2011, lot 224 and a further commode of this type, more lavishly decorated and with jasper tops and provenance with the Chigi family was sold Sotheby's London, 4 December 2024, lot 9.

The provenance of these commodes is of particular rarity and relates to the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and the installment of Bonapartist allies on the northern Italian thrones. The crowned 'N' and 'M.R' for Napoleon and Mobilier Royal as well as the Duca di Galiera label place it among a group of furniture with similar marks and labels which come from the Palazzo Caprara, subsequently Palazzo Reale di Bologna, associated with the Duchy of Galliera, created for Josephine de Beauharnais, Duchess of Galliera, later Queen of Sweden and Norway.

DUCHESSA DI GALLIERA

The Ducato di Galliera mentioned on one of the inventory labels of these commode refers to Josephine Maximilienne Eugenie Napoleon de Beauharnais (Milan 1807 - Stockholm 1876), firstborn daughter of Eugene de Beauharnais (1781-1824) and Augusta Amalia (daughter of King Maximilian of Bavaria). Her father, Eugene de Beauharnais, was adopted by Napoleon Bonaparte and named Viceroy of Italy in 1805. In 1807 Napoleon acquired the Palazzo Caprara in Bologna as accommodation when visiting the city and renamed it the Palazzo Reale di Bologna, as indicated on the label of these commodes.

Napoleon's step-granddaughter, the young Josephine de Beauharnais and and daughter of the Viceroy of Italy was named Princess of Bologna on 29 December 1807 and Duchessa di Galliera on 28 May 1813. In a document dated 5 June 1813 in the Archivio Storico Comunale di Bologna it is recorded that the ducato di Galliera was created for nostra Principessa Primogenita di S.A.L. il Principe ViceR almost certainly by Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1823, when the inventory for the Palazzo Reale di Bologna was taken and when these commodes were recorded in the apartment of the Viceroy, Josephine married Oscar I (1779-1859), King of Sweden and Norway and Marshal under Napoleon.

In 1837 the Duchy of Galliera along with the contents of the Palazzo Caprara was acquired by Raffaele Luigi di Ferrari, whose inventory marks are also recorded on these commodes.