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A French Louis XVI period demi-lune (half-moon) entre-deux commode from the Grenoble region, attributed to the marquetry work of Hache or his workshop.
The façade is arranged around a central arched door, flanked by two curved side panels. It is decorated with an oval marquetry composition. The central medallion features a floral and ornithological motif: a bouquet of flowers—likely roses—over which a pair of birds is depicted in flight. The treatment is delicate, almost painterly, enhanced by pyrography and a subtle use of different wood species to render the nuances of the plumage, petals, and foliage.
Surrounding this medallion, the cabinetmaker created several concentric bands of marquetry. The oval is outlined by a dark border, followed by a frame composed of small radiating or segmented elements. The door panel is then enclosed within a wide rectangular frieze decorated with scrolls, small flowers, and circular rosettes.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the piece lies in the richness of its marquetry. Several types of wood appear to have been used, including rosewood, palisander, boxwood, fruitwood, and ebony.
The lower apron is highlighted by a contrasting frieze composed of alternating light triangles (bone) and dark ones (ebony).
The side panels are marquetry-decorated and pyro-engraved with allegories of gardening (spades, scythes, gardener’s hat, watering can, harrow) and music (drum and bagpipe), arranged as matching pairs.
