In 2015 I was commissioned to build a Louis XVI style vanity by a client that I have worked with many times in the past. I normally wouldn't build a non-moveable piece but my client was very persuasive and I like him a great deal. The piece would be built in every way like an 18th century commode ( an elaborate chest of drawers ) with a few 21st century additions. The case and all the drawers would be dovetailed by hand. The case was made from highly figured maple with all the boards cut from the same tree for consistent color and figure. All the drawer linings and interior parts were made from quarter sawn white oak. No plywood was used at all. The only modern twists were undermounted soft close drawer slides and a waterproof finish. The wood was stained to resemble Harewood and to harmonize with the exceptional tile work in the room.
I started with full scale hand drawings as usual with the main difficulty being to work out the frieze. I needed to base the dimensions of the front and sides on the repeat of the Greek Key pattern so that they would be symmetrical within the metal frames on the frieze. After that was worked out the rest of the drawing was fairly straightforward.
Hand dovetailed oak drawer side and maple drawer front.
Assortment of nickel plated bronze Greek key, belts and moldings from Paris.
Bronze frames, mounts and escutcheon.
Inlaying the "washboard" detail in one the feet of the chest.
Inlaid feet with sabot attached.
Early stages of the assembled case. The rear pilaster is just held in place by clamps at this stage.
Dry fitting the wooden and metal frames for the drawer fronts.
Detail of the front with wooden and metal frames.
Fitting wooden frames after attaching the rear pilaster.
Knobs attached and beginning to look like the finished piece.
Inlaying the offset knife hinge for the door. I needed to cut into the bronze belt to properly place the hinge.
The geometry necessary for the side drawer fronts.
The inlaid nickel plated bronze flutes for the pilasters. Because they were plated, I had to fit them perfectly flush by hand while they were raw bronze and then send them back to Paris to be plated.
Detail of the upper side. Note that the grain behind the Greek key runs horizontally.
Side detail with helmet attached.
Nearly ready to deliver, I was cleaning the Greek key as you can see on the right.