Louis XVI Cherry Wood Commode
Before Restoration
Louis XVI Cherry Wood Commode Before Restoration.
We can easily observe that the bronze mounts on this commode do not match its style. The handles fixed to the drawers are Empire style, and the keyhole escutcheons are Louis-Philippe style. This commode originally had drop handles; we can tell by the impressions left on the wood.
We also clearly notice the advanced wear on the drawer runners.
This is a common flaw in this type of commode: the drawers are large and allow the owner to fill them with numerous items, thus creating significant weight. Unfortunately, the drawers rest in the commode only on a narrow runner at each end, and if these drawers are handled daily, the runners and drawer sides wear out very quickly.
To prevent this, I recommend not overloading the drawers.
The boards forming the sides have dried out; this caused wood shrinkage, and the boards have separated at their joints. We can also see in these photos the degraded state of the frame moldings, as well as damage from wood-boring insects.
The rear legs have suffered significant attack from wood-boring insects. In the photo on the right, we can clearly see that the wood no longer has its normal structure and visual appearance, but rather resembles flour.
Planks were nailed to the back to hold the weakened joints together.
Côté droit de la commode avant restauration, le panneau est fendu et il la moulure du bas est abîmée.
Détail le la moulure inférieure du côté droit de la commode avant restauration.
Le côté gauche a les mêmes problèmes que le côté droit.
Détail le la moulure inférieure du côté gauche de la commode avant restauration.
Le coulisseau gauche du tiroir de la commode est usé.
Le coulisseau droit du tiroir de la commode est usé.
Le pied arrière gauche est également très vermoulu
Le pied arrière droit est très vermoulu
Sur le fond arrière de la commode, des planches de coffrage ont été pointées
During Restoration
On the back panel of the commode, formwork planks had been nailed to consolidate the structure.
The planks that had been nailed during a previous restoration concealed the advanced degradation of the joints.
The commode is therefore disassembled to restore each degraded component.
The drawers were also unglued to restore the sides and bottom.
The panels forming the sides are separated; the panels will be restored and the assembly reglued, followed by the restoration of the frame moldings, which will be glued before reassembling the commode.
Wear on the drawer runners was compensated by adding wood strips.
L’assemblage de la traverse arrière avec le pied est en très mauvais état.
Démontage du côté droit de la commode
Démontage du côté gauche de la commode
Vue d’ensemble de la commode
Démontage d’un tiroir de la commode
Démontage d’un panneau de côté de la commode
Vue d’ensemble des panneaux démontés des deux côtés de la commode
Restauration de tous les coulisseaux usés des tiroirs de la commode
Remontage complet de la commode
After Restoration
