Antique French Sandblasted Walnut Commode

Structurally sound and in good working order for its age. This piece has been sandblasted back to bare wood, which removed the earlier surface.

There is extensive old woodworm damage throughout. The three drawer fronts are heavily affected on both their outer and inner faces, with fields of small round exit holes together with open meandering channels on the exterior, the galleries opened up by the blasting. The three back boards are equally affected, with dense fine pinholing across their full surface, and the top back rail shows channeling with visible loss of material. The lower rail and feet are also affected. The drawer sides and bottoms are comparatively lightly affected. One drawer back has a small loss at its upper edge. The damage appears historic. I have not had the piece treated, and I have not tested it for active infestation. Please study the detail photographs closely before purchasing.

The top is built from several boards. There are open shrinkage gaps along the seams and a split at one corner, consistent with age and seasonal movement. It is secured with wooden pegs that stand slightly proud of the surface.

The applied moldings framing the drawer fronts have small chips and losses at the corners.

The drawers are joined with hand-cut dovetails reinforced with iron nails. Drawer bottoms are softwood boards, hand-nailed.

The back boards retain their darker oxidized tone and vary in width.

The primary wood is walnut in my assessment, based on its weight, its color, the grain, and the construction. It has not been formally identified by laboratory analysis, and the sandblasting has removed much of the surface detail that would normally confirm species. I am telling you what I believe it to be rather than what has been certified.

The brass hardware is period. The bail handles sit on hand-threaded posts secured with square nuts, seated in hand-cut recesses on the inner faces of the drawer fronts, and the handle positions are original to the piece. Two iron mortise locks are present on the top and middle drawers, fixed with slotted screws. Both are in working order and are operated by the original key, which is included. The bottom drawer carries a matching escutcheon and keyhole but has no lock mechanism and does not lock.

The date given is my estimate based on construction. There is no maker's mark or stamp. Sold as is, with all condition captured in the photographs. Expected marks, scuffs, and small losses throughout consistent with age and use.

#115