167 - Chest of drawers with a slightly curved front made of ebony veneer and “jasmine-style” marquetry in cherry, boxwood, sycamore, walnut, holly, amaranth, and satinwood, featuring a front decoration of grotesque masks framed by branches and flowers. The sides are inlaid with two vases of flowers; the top is bordered by a mold, decorated with exceptional marquetry featuring foliage, a butterfly, and birds framing a vase of jasmine flowers on an entablature, along with foliage and grotesques. It features five drawers in four rows, with bronze pull handles, lock plates, and bronze trim.

Chest of drawers with a slightly curved front made of ebony veneer and “jasmine-style” marquetry in cherry, boxwood, sycamore, walnut, holly, amaranth, and satinwood, featuring a front decoration of grotesque masks framed by branches and flowers. The sides are inlaid with two vases of flowers; the top is bordered by a mold, decorated with exceptional marquetry featuring foliage, a butterfly, and birds framing a vase of jasmine flowers on an entablature, along with foliage and grotesques. It features five drawers in four rows, with bronze pull handles, lock plates, and bronze trim. Attributed to Renaud GAUDRON (1653–1727) Louis XIV period H 86 – W 119.5 – D 61 cm Normal wear and tear CORRECTION PV: Marquetry repairs, cracks filled, base remade Several chests of drawers with similar marquetry designs attributed to Renaud GAUDRON are known: - OSENAT Auction, Versailles, July 5, 2025, lot 145 - Chantilly Auction House, April 23, 2023, lot 114 - Artcurial Auction, Paris, July 8, 2014 - Hampel Auction, Munich, September 19, 2013, lot 63 - Me Ader, Picard, Tajan, Palais Galliera Auction, December 10, 1973, lot 102 Renaud Gaudron, cabinetmaker to the Crown from 1686 onward. Renaud Gaudron, born around 1653, succeeded his father Aubertin Gaudron, a cabinetmaker and contemporary of Pierre Gole, who served as the regular cabinetmaker for the chamber and household of the Duchess of Orléans, as well as a supplier to the household of the Palatine—Monsieur’s second wife—from 1672 until his death in 1684. It was in his father’s workshop that Renaud completed his apprenticeship and was certified as a master before 1684. Upon his father’s death, his mother transferred to him the position of official cabinetmaker to the Duchess of Orléans, which had belonged to his father. After Pierre Gole’s death in 1684, he served for twenty-seven years as virtually the sole supplier of cabinetry to the Crown’s Furniture Depot. A total of 412 pieces of furniture were delivered between June 8, 1686, and 1713. When Renaud Gaudron died in 1727 on Rue de Richelieu, he was living off a pension and was described as “an officer of the late Her Highness Madame.” Among his private clients were the Marquise de Seignelay at the Château de Sceaux, the Duchess of Portsmouth, and Michel de Chamillart. Bibliography: C. Demetrescu, *Les ébénistes de la Couronne sous Louis XIV*, Bibliothèque des arts, 2021