The present André Groult commode is made from mahogany, amaranth and silver-plated bronze. The mahogany and amaranth wood present in deep, rich hues and were considered atypical and exotic at this t.mes , such as other woods like Macassar ebony, zebrawood and palmwood. The refined lines and rational geometry of the commode combined with its selection of sumptuous materials, present a truly remarkable and opulent sensibility mastered by this celebrated decorative artist.

In 1925, Groult was selected to design a room for a hypothetical French Embassy presented at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. Each room was created by a different artist and Groult was appointed the Lady’s Bedroom, or the “Chambre de Madame,” where he designed a very harmonious space utilizing some of the most exquisite materials now symbolic of the Art Deco period. Included in the Lady’s Bedroom was a canopied bed, wing back chairs, low lounge chairs, a chiffonier and a commode of the same design as the present model. The form of each piece was anthropomorphic with bold curvilinear forms. The original suite of furniture was well received and solidified Groult as one of the most prominent designers of the Art Deco era. The chiffonier, or vertical chest of drawers, now resides in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris as a superlative example of the progressive neotraditionalism popularized by a select few decorative artists at the 1925 exposition.

The present commode is indicative of the opulent yet refined decorative style developed by Groult throughout the 1920s. Many practitioners at this t.mes were interested in progress, creating interiors and furniture that were resolutely reflective of a changing society. Groult responded to this shift by combining creative and exotic materials with inventive forms while also referencing the past. Groult took inspiration from classical furniture shapes for the present commode, however he inventively modernized it with exaggerated forms and contemporary materials.

Just as Groult had been inspired by historical furniture, his own creations have served as a source of inspiration for contemporary designers. Notably, the forms, lines and geometry of the suite of furniture from the 1925 “Chambre de Madame” has influenced Australian designer Marc Newson’s riveted aluminum pieces, such as his “Lockheed Lounge” and “Pod of Drawers.”