'THE DOLNA KRUPA COMMODE'

'THE DOLNA KRUPA COMMODE': An 18th century Baltic bombe commode, in rosewood and kingwood with gilt brass mounts, the red marble top of serpentine form over two short and three long drawers, each with fine geometric inlaid detail and bow and swag cast brass mounts to the handles and escutcheons, the handles also set with cast roundels bearing profile portraits of a garlanded classical figure, flanked with rococo style mounts over beaded edges, descending into outswept feet either side of a shaped apron, all bearing further scrolling brass mounts

84.5cm high x 128.5cm wide x 67cm deep

Provenance: Originally one of a pair from the Dolná Krupá mansion, formerly known as Karompa, in Dolná Krupá, modern day Slovakia. The Dolná Krupá mansion was commissioned by the Brunsvik family and designed by Austrian architect Johann Joseph Talherr, then chief of the Hungarian Director of Constructions. Construction took place between 1793 and 1795 on the site of a former 17th century manor house. It remained in the posession of the Brunsvik family until it came into the possession of the Chotek family when it was given as dowry to Henrietta Brunsvik and Herman Chotek on their marriage in 1813.

Between 1797 - 1806 it repeatedly hosted composer and friend of Jozef Brunsvik, Ludwig van Beethoven as piano teacher to the Brunsvik daughters Josephine and Therese. A romance developed between Beethoven and Josephine though was not approved of by the Brunsvik family due to Beethoven's social status and so was never to develop further. Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.14, 'Moonlight Sonata', was one of many compositions written by Beethoven whilst staying at the house.

The mansion underwent significant reconstruction in the 1820s and in the 1890s its famous rosarium was created as a passion project for Marie Henrieta Chotek.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the commode had been seperated from its pair and sent to the Dorotheum in Austria for restoration work, it was retained for safekeeping when the mansion was evacuated by the Chotek family. The Dorotheum held many items from the contents of mansion houses in this period to keep them safe from the dangers of war. By 1945 the mansion had been ransacked by the Red Army, its gardens fallen into disrepair and its contents mostly stolen. After the war, the commode was sent by the Dorotheum to members of the Chotek family now living in London, it has remained in their possession ever since and was consigned to sale by a member of the Chotek family.

One notable member of the Chotek family was Sophie Chotek, wife of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and whom after a stay at Stary Futod - southernmost of the Chotek's seven castles of the time, was assassinated alongside her husband in Sarajevo in 1914 in an act that would spark the outbreak of the First World War.