Napoleon III Rococo Revival Tall Chest of Drawers — Ebony-Stripe Veneer & Antique Gold Ormolu Mounts

Design & Inspiration

Place this chest beside a carved lit à baldaquin or at the end of a wide corridor and it will stop a room in its tracks — not through volume, but through detail. The Napoleon III period (1852–1870) produced some of the most deliberately theatrical furniture France has ever made: Rococo curves revived and amplified, veneers laid in graphic stripes, and every brass mount placed with the confidence of a jeweller. This tall chest of five drawers is faithfully reproduced in that tradition, drawing from the design vocabulary of Second Empire cabinetmakers who understood that a chest of drawers need not be merely functional. It can be the focal statement of a room.

Materials & Craftsmanship

The carcass is constructed from Romanian solid redwood dried to below 10% humidity — a foundational choice that ensures dimensional stability in varying climates. Over this, the cabinetmaker has laid a striking ebony-stripe veneer across the drawer fronts and sides, alternating dark and medium brown bands that give the piece its characteristic graphic rhythm. The shaped serpentine top is quarter-veneered in a contrasting burr wood, its figure radiating outward from the centre — a technique that requires careful grain matching and a craftsman's eye for symmetry. All ormolu mounts — the cartouche-style handles, the acanthus corner guards, the scrolled apron ornament, and the sabots at the foot of each cabriole leg — are cast in brass and finished in an antique gold patina by hand.

Dimensions & Details

The chest stands tall on four slender cabriole legs that emerge from boldly scrolled gilt sabots — the legs themselves clean and unadorned, letting the movement of the curve carry the eye upward to the case. Five graduated drawers are arranged in descending height from top to bottom, each fitted with a scrolled brass bail handle centered on a foliate backplate. The drawer edges are outlined in brass banding, a Second Empire detail that doubles as both ornament and structural reinforcement. The side panels are veneered in the same stripe pattern as the fronts, with a central vertical carved-brass floral mount providing relief against the geometric ground.

Handcrafted in Egypt

Every chest that leaves the Brass & Wood workshop is the product of hands-on craftsmanship: hand-cut veneers, individually fitted drawer boxes running on smooth wooden slides, and brass mounts applied and adjusted by a metalworker who understands both the decorative and the structural role of each piece. The French-polished finish is built up in multiple sessions, each layer buffed before the next is applied — a process that gives the wood its depth and the surface its clarity. This is not a piece assembled from pressed components. It is made, carefully and with intent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials is this chest made from?

The chest is constructed from Romanian solid redwood (under 10% humidity) with ebony-stripe and burr-wood veneers. All hardware — handles, corner mounts, sabots, and apron ornaments — is solid brass with an antique gold patina finish.

Is any assembly required?

Minimal assembly is required upon delivery — typically attaching any removable hardware or levelling the legs. No specialist tools or technical knowledge are needed.

Can this piece be customised?

Yes. Brass & Wood offers customisation in wood finish tone, brass patina colour, and veneer selection. Contact our team to discuss options before placing your order.