BAKER Black Lacquer and Gilt Chinoiserie Commode with Mirror, circa 1985
A piece like this does not merely furnish a room—it defines it.
This striking Chippendale-style commode, executed in a rich black lacquer and heightened with finely detailed gilt chinoiserie decoration, is a refined example of Baker Furniture’s celebrated Stately Homes Collection, produced in the United States circa 1985.
The visual impact is immediate. The gently contoured top opens onto an intricately hand-painted landscape populated with pagodas, figures, and animated scenes of daily life and nature. This narrative continues seamlessly across the façade, extending over a wide frieze drawer and the paneled doors below, creating a continuous, immersive composition. The depth of the apron reinforces the sculptural presence of the cabinet, while the dramatic, saber-shaped legs, carved with stylized husks and refined ornament, bring movement and elegance to the silhouette.
At ground level, the feet are equally considered, featuring a carved key-pattern motif and tapering, turned toes embellished with rising foliate carving, details that quietly affirm the quality of craftsmanship throughout. Every element has been designed to balance theatrical decoration with disciplined structure.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the piece offers generous and practical storage: a full-width upper drawer sits above a spacious cabinet compartment fitted with an adjustable shelf, making it as functional as it is decorative. The original maker’s mark is retained.
Constructed in mahogany and finished with exceptional attention to detail, this commode is in excellent vintage condition, with only minor wear consistent with age.
The accompanying mirror, echoing the same decorative vocabulary with its shaped crest and subtle ornamentation, completes the ensemble and reinforces its architectural presence within a space.
Dimensions
Cabinet: Width 50 in. × Depth 24.5 in. × Height 35 in.
Mirror: Width 48 in. × Height 60 in.
More than furniture, this is a statement piece—an object conceived to anchor a room, to draw the eye, and to evoke a sense of cultivated luxury.
Provenance: Private Collection, Marina Del Rey, CA
