Fake Signatures: Unusual Louis-Philippe French Chest of Drawers/Commode (late period antiques)!

Firstly, this unusual commode table offers a surprising enhancement of my understanding of design from this final decade of the traditional decorative arts (1830-1840). This is a striking and memorable example of high quality Louis-Philippe furniture (a period and style which hasn't gone down in history for much finesse or innovation in design).

In line with how outstanding pieces from this late, almost industrial time have been so misunderstood and improperly categorized, this commode bears apocryphal signatures of the celebrated Empire period master cabinetaker, Bernard Molitor. Some dishonest dealer applied these stamps, probably him or herself unaware that this piece dates to circa 1835-40 and not 1810-15 (or really from any point during the Molitor's life which ended in 1833). The JME stamp also appears fraudulently on this piece... even though the JME stamp was abolished twenty years before the period this bygone forger was trying to attribute to the commode!

My hope is that the video will yet again help beginners to gain a basic understanding of what types of furniture from the past are most artistically valuable and why....particularly how these great and sometimes eccentric period pieces differ from most "antiques." Intermediate and advanced collectors and scholars may enjoy having access to these pieces virtually, despite my relatively limited understanding and presentations of them.

If you are interested in purchasing a piece please reach out in the comments or via the contact page of Myersandmonroe.com. For anyone decorating a fine home with older pieces, please be advised to learn the difference between general antiques and these earlier, more beautiful period antiques of which regular "antiques" are usually pale and common factory made reinterpretations.