A LOUIS XV RED-JAPANNED AND VERNIS MARTIN SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT by Pierre Macret, the vernis Martin attributed to Martin frères, mounted with gilt-bronze, the moulded rounded rectangular brêche d'alep marble top above a panelled fall-front and doors decorated sans traverse with a bathing figure and a courtly chinoiserie figure in attendance, within a fretwork enclosure with deer and fowl in the foreground and a rocky outcrop beyond with trees and foliage, the foliate slip frame flanked by rounded angles headed by laurel-swagged lion-masks, the curved sides with further chinoiserie landscapes with figures, bonsai trees and deer, the fall-front enclosing a bois satiné fitted interior with four serpentine-fronted drawers, one fitted with two brass wells, flanking a well and above three serpentine-fronted shelves, above a dark green leather-lined writing-surface, the door enclosing a plain interior with one shelf, above a waved apron and on cabriole legs with acanthus cast claw-and-ball sabots, stamped MACRET, with indistinct pencil inscription31in. (79cm.) wide; 51in. (129.5cm.) high; 15 1/8in. (38.5cm.) deep

A LOUIS XV RED-JAPANNED AND VERNIS MARTIN SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT by Pierre Macret, the vernis Martin attributed to Martin frères, mounted with gilt-bronze, the moulded rounded rectangular brêche d'alep marble top above a panelled fall-front and doors decorated sans traverse with a bathing figure and a courtly chinoiserie figure in attendance, within a fretwork enclosure with deer and fowl in the foreground and a rocky outcrop beyond with trees and foliage, the foliate slip frame flanked by rounded angles headed by laurel-swagged lion-masks, the curved sides with further chinoiserie landscapes with figures, bonsai trees and deer, the fall-front enclosing a bois satiné fitted interior with four serpentine-fronted drawers, one fitted with two brass wells, flanking a well and above three serpentine-fronted shelves, above a dark green leather-lined writing-surface, the door enclosing a plain interior with one shelf, above a waved apron and on cabriole legs with acanthus cast claw-and-ball sabots, stamped MACRET, with indistinct pencil inscription 31in. (79cm.) wide; 51in. (129.5cm.) high; 15 1/8in. (38.5cm.) deep

Details

A LOUIS XV RED-JAPANNED AND VERNIS MARTIN SECRETAIRE A ABATTANT by Pierre Macret, the vernis Martin attributed to Martin frères, mounted with gilt-bronze, the moulded rounded rectangular brêche d'alep marble top above a panelled fall-front and doors decorated sans traverse with a bathing figure and a courtly chinoiserie figure in attendance, within a fretwork enclosure with deer and fowl in the foreground and a rocky outcrop beyond with trees and foliage, the foliate slip frame flanked by rounded angles headed by laurel-swagged lion-masks, the curved sides with further chinoiserie landscapes with figures, bonsai trees and deer, the fall-front enclosing a bois satiné fitted interior with four serpentine-fronted drawers, one fitted with two brass wells, flanking a well and above three serpentine-fronted shelves, above a dark green leather-lined writing-surface, the door enclosing a plain interior with one shelf, above a waved apron and on cabriole legs with acanthus cast claw-and-ball sabots, stamped MACRET, with indistinct pencil inscription
31in. (79cm.) wide; 51in. (129.5cm.) high; 15 1/8in. (38.5cm.) deep

Provenance

Sir Philip Sassoon, Bt., 25 Park Lane, W.1., recorded in the Library in the pre-1927 inventory and in 1939

Literature

D. Cooper ed.,Great Family Collections, London, 1965, p.234 (illustrated in situ in the Drawing-Room)
.53, fig. 9 (illustrated in situ in the White Drawing Room)
G. Worsley, 'Houghton', Country Life, 4 March 1993, p.53, fig. 9 (illustrated in situ in the White Drawing Room)

Lot Essay

Pierre Macret flourished 1756-1785

PIERRE MACRET

Born in 1727, Pierre Macret married Jean Foullière. Apointed in succession to Jean-Pierre Latz's widow as marchand-ébéniste privilégié du Roi suivant de la Cour in 1756, he established himself firstly in the rue Saint Nicolas, then in the rue Saint Honoré a little before 1763

In 1758 the marchand Lazare Duvaux owed Macret 1,169 livres for furniture executed by the ébéniste. However, he worked equally with the marchands-ébénistes Boudin, Genty and Chevalier.

In 1761, Macret acquired several mounts from the bronzier Antoine-Philippe Pajot, who was appointed fournisseur des Menus Plaisirs du Roi from 1764-71 According to an 18th century tradition, a close collaboration existed between these two craftsmen. However, japanned furniture would normally suggest the intervention of a marchand-mercier. At the time that Lazare Duvaux employed Macret, he was also patronising the frères Martin, vernisseurs du Roi

Identical lion-mask angle mounts appear on a commode by Nicolas Petit (maître in 1761), sold by the Trustees of Lord Hillingdon in these Rooms, 29 June 1972, lot 79

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