Louis XV-style commode with serpentine front and sides, featuring fluted and raised stiles. It opens with two large drawers without intermediate crosspieces, and is equipped with concealed supports. Fully decorated with butterfly-wing veneer patterns in kingwood, outlined by maple stringing. An elegant ornamentation in finely chased and gilded bronze completes the piece: handles, escutcheons, sabots, and decorations on the apron and stiles. The top is surmounted by a marble slab. The mark C. Wolff is stamped on the rear right stile.
40,94in x 21,06in h:35,83in
Private collection
Defects. Restorations.
Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers must understand that any statement made by Coradi Rare Finds is merely a subjective opinion.
Wolff Christophe – Germany 1720, Paris 1795; was a French cabinetmaker active in Paris during the second half of the 18th century. Renowned for his mastery in floral marquetry, he collaborated with some of the most important artisans of the time, contributing to the creation of furniture of extraordinary refinement.
One of Wolff’s most representative works is a desk housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Dated between 1760 and 1770, this desk is made of oak veneered with precious woods such as tulipwood, mahogany, and rosewood, and features inlays of boxwood, maple, and barberry wood. The top is decorated with a trophy of musical instruments and a butterfly, framed by rocaille motifs and gilded bronze borders. The structure includes cabriole legs with gilt bronze ornaments, typical of the French Rococo style.
Another significant example is a "Greek"-style chest of drawers, inspired by ancient temples, created in collaboration with Jean-Henri Riesener. In this piece, Wolff was responsible for the marquetry, while Riesener provided the bronzes and marble. The chest features a polychrome floral decoration framed by dark amaranth wood, with central motifs resembling paintings—a distinctive characteristic of Wolff’s style.
Wolff’s style is marked by great technical precision and a refined taste for decorative composition. His floral marquetry, often framed like paintings, displays mastery in the use of color and botanical detail. His collaboration with masters like Riesener helped define the aesthetics of French furniture during the transitional period between the Rococo and Neoclassical styles.