The sale of a beautiful 18th century chest of drawers which will be held on November 25 at Saint-Germain-en-Laye Enchères should interest many fans of the period. But the estimate of 500,000 to 700,000 euros given by expert Pierre-François Dayot will surely scare more than one person. However, it is moderate.
The piece of furniture put up for sale is exceptional: found during the inventory of an estate, it is a creation by an illustrious cabinetmaker, Charles Cressent (1685-1768). Typical of the first half of the 18th century, this curved chest of drawers in precious marquetry is decorated with bronzes of breathtaking virtuosity. For the expert, it is simply “a masterpiece”.
In addition, bearing the mark of crown property, it was delivered on August 4, 1738 for the bedroom of King Louis XV at the Château de la Muette, on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. These two factors – renowned cabinetmaker and prestigious owner – should arouse the desire of major museums, the Palace of Versailles but also of rich collectors. As a reminder, in 2022, during the sale of the contents of the Lambert Hotel decorated by the Al Thani princely family of Qatar, two armchairs by Jean-Baptiste Tilliard, delivered to the daughters of Louis XV, sold for 3,665,000 euros, after an estimate of 800,000 euros. Logically, the price of the chest of drawers should soar!