LA GAZETTE DROUOT | Press Release
Nicolas Nouvelet will soon dedicate its “Decorative Arts of Yesterday and Today” auction to a collection of works and furnishings that showcase the excellence of French decorative arts from the 18th century to the present day.
Among the most remarkable pieces is a prestigious royal chest of drawers from the Louis XVI period, crafted by Jean-Henri Riesener and delivered in 1786 for the Countess of Angiviller’s bedroom at the Hôtel du Gouvernement in the Château de Rambouillet (estimate: €15,000–25,000). A rare example of the furniture commissioned for the estate after its acquisition by Louis XVI in 1783, this mahogany and mahogany-veneered chest of drawers perfectly illustrates the understated elegance and technical mastery for which the King’s court cabinetmaker was renowned.
The history of the piece has been accurately traced thanks to the archives of the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne. Several documents from 1786 mention the delivery of a mahogany chest of drawers intended for the apartments of the Countess of Angiviller, wife of the Director General of the King’s Buildings. Even more remarkable, an expert appraisal conducted in 2026 revealed an old inventory number on the back of the piece, corresponding to number 668 in the inventory of the Château de Rambouillet compiled in 1787. This discovery allows us to pinpoint the chest of drawers’ location in the countess’s bedroom and confirms its exceptional royal provenance.
The piece also bears two particularly significant historical marks: a crowned letter “R” corresponding to the inventory of the Rambouillet estate and a mark featuring two crowned “G”s, now identified as that of the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne. Long associated with the Tuileries Palace, this mark actually attests to the administration of the royal furniture collection as a whole. Combined with the inventory number, these marks constitute rare elements of traceability for an 18th-century piece of furniture.
Through this piece, the auction highlights one of the greatest names in French cabinetmaking. As the successor to Jean-François Oeben and appointed the King’s official cabinetmaker in 1774, Jean-Henri Riesener produced some of the most prestigious pieces of furniture for the Crown under Louis XVI. With its elegant lines, high-quality craftsmanship, and thoroughly documented provenance, this chest of drawers stands as a precious testament to the refinement of royal residences on the eve of the French Revolution.
Jean-Henri Riesener (1734–1806)
Royal chest of drawers from the Louis XVI period
Estimate: €15,000–25,000