In the great collections to which reference has been made, in well-known pieces made by Riesener his name is found stamped on the panel itself, or sometimes on the oak lining. The large bureau in the Wallace Collection (Gallery xvi., No. 66) is both signed and dated "20th February, 1769." This piece, it is said, was ordered by Stanislas Leczinski, King of Poland, and was once one of the possessions of the Crown of France.

By permission of Messrs. Waring.
LOUIS XVI. RIESENER COMMODE.

With regard to the cost of pieces of furniture by the great master ébénistes, it is on record that a secrétaire which was exhibited at Gore House in 1853, and made originally for Beaumarchais by Riesener, cost 85,000 francs, a sum not much less than £4,000. Celebrated copies have been made from these old models. The famous cabinet with mounts by Gouthière, now in the possession of the King, was copied about twenty-five years ago for the Marquis of Hertford, by permission of Queen Victoria. The piece took years to complete, and it is interesting to have the evidence of its copyists that the most difficult parts to imitate were the metal mounts. This replica cost some £3,000, and is now in the Wallace Collection. The copy of the famous bureau or escritoire in the Louvre, known as the "Bureau de St. Cloud," was made by permission of the Emperor Napoleon III., and cost £2,000. Another copy of the same piece exhibited at the French International Exhibition was sold for £3,500 to an English peeress. Many fine copies of Riesener's work exist, and in the illustration (p. [197]) a copy is given of a handsome commode, which exhibits his best style under the influence of his master, Oeben.

RECENT SALE PRICES.[1]

£s.d.
Cabinets, pair of Louis XVI., dwarf ebony, the panels inlaid with black and goldlacquer, decorated with birds and trees in the Chinese taste, mountedwith foliage borders of chased ormolu, and surmounted by veined blackmarble slabs, 45 in. high, 35 in. wide. Christie, November 20, 190339180
Suite of Louis XVI. furniture, with fluted borders and legs, painted white andpale green, the seats, backs, and arms covered with old Beauvais tapestry,with vases and festoons of flowers and conventional arabesques in poly-chrome,on white ground in pale green borders, consisting of an oblongsettee, 72 in. wide, eight fauteuils. Christie, December 18, 1903147000
}
Secrétaire, Louis XVI., upright marquetry, with fall-down front, drawerabove, and folding doors below, inlaid with hunting trophies on trellis-patternground, mounted with foliage, friezes, and corner mounts of chasedormolu, and surmounted by a Breccia marble slab, stamped "J. Stumpff.Me.," 56 in. high, 40 in. wide. Christie, February 12, 190431500
Commode, en suite, with five drawers, 58 in. wide. Christie, February 12,1904
Work-table, Louis XVI., oval, in two tiers, upon a tripod stand, with doublecandle branches above; the top tier is composed of a Sèvres plaque,painted with sprays of roses; around this is a gallery of chased ormolu;the second tier is of parquetry, this has also a balcony; the tripod baseis of mahogany, with mounts of ormolu, cast and chased; the nozzlesfor the two candles above are similar in material and decoration, width oftop tier, 13 in. Christie, March 18, 190471400
Table, Louis XVI., marquetry, signed "N. Petit," top inlaid with musicaltrophy, &c., mounts, &c., of ormolu, cast and chased, 30 in. wide. Christie,March 18, 190499150
Fauteuils, pair, Louis XVI. (stamped "J. Leglartier"), tapered oblongbacks and curved arms, turned legs, white and gilt, covered with Beauvaistapestry, with subjects from "Fables de la Fontaine," and other designs.Flashman & Co., Dover, April 26, 19047500
Console-table, Louis XVI., carved and painted wood, with fluted legs andstretchers, and open frieze in front, surmounted by a slab of white marble,5 ft. 4 in. wide. Christie, May 6, 19044600
Commode, Louis XVI., containing three drawers, in front it is divided intothree rectangular sunk panels of parquetry, each bordered with mahogany,with ormolu mounts, surmounted by a slab of fleur-de-pêchemarble, 57 in. wide. Christie, May 27, 190435700
Commode, Louis XVI., stamped with the name of "J. H. Reisener," with tambourpanels in front and drawers at the top; it is chiefly composed ofmahogany, the central panel inlaid in a coloured marquetry; on eitherside, and at the ends, are panels of tulip-wood parquetery, the whole ismounted with ormolu, surmounted by a slab of veined marble, 34 in. wide.Christie, May 27, 1904315000

[1] By the kindness of the proprietors of the Connoisseur these items are given from their useful monthly publication, Auction Sale Prices.

IX
FRENCH
FURNITURE.
THE FIRST
EMPIRE STYLE