oak carcase veneered with marquetry of tulipwood, sycamore, purplewood edge banding and ebony and holly stringing; gilt bronze mounts; white Carrara marble tops
Credit
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Cabinet-maker Carlin was known for sophisticated pieces of furniture mounted with porcelain plaques or lacquer panels, or, as here, decorated with marquetry of exotic woods. This commode is in the neoclassical style, which looked to the art of ancient Rome for inspiration. The foliate swags and trellises of the marquetry are based on published drawings of some of the material then recently excavated from the archeological sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii.