Fine 18th century Rococo period bombé-shaped commode attributed to Mathias Ortmann. Ca 1750 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Fair condition. The commode has been dry scraped to reveal it's historical original colours. Small repair to the feet. Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading.
Very unusual due to it's painted finish as Mathias Ortmann mainly used walnut imported from Italy to veneer his commodes.
Mathias Ortmann (ca.1700-1757) was born in Sweden as the son of a cabinet-maker. The Ortmann family moved to Copenhagen to open a workshop in Nyhavn and at an early age, Mathias Ortmann became an apprentice in his father’s rapidly expanding workshop, which counted Frederik IV’s brother Prince Carl as a customer buying pieces for his palace Charlottenborg. After the death of Mathias’ father in 1723, his mother carried on the business and two years later, Ortmann passed his examinations and acquired a trade licence as furniture-maker.
