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Lot Essay
The half-brother of the ébéniste Jacques Dubois, Gérard married the widow of a 'menuisier en ébène' in 1710 and initially established himself as marchand-ébéniste in the rue Faubourg Saint-Antoine. His business prospered and in 1726 he became marchand-mercier, moving to the hôtel of the banker and connoisseur Jabach on the rue Neuve-Saint-Merry. He evidently specialized in all aspects of ameublement de luxe and numbered among his clients Stanislas Leszczynski, the King of Poland, who purchased tapestries from him, the comte de Clermont, who in 1734 owed him 139,672 livres and Mylord Wadgrave, the ambassador from England, who bought furniture from him in 1733. The inventory taken after his death in 1736 reveals the extensive nature of his business, listing 80 clocks and 150 pieces of furniture in varying stages of completion, as well as mounted porcelains, bronzes and tapestries.
It is thought that Gerard purchased various models of furniture and mounts from the ébéniste André-Charles Boulle after his death in 1732 and one can certainly see much of Boulle's influence in Gérard's oeuvre. The heavy stance of this bureau, combined with the use of the brass- inlaid stringing on an ebonised ground is reminiscent of the little-known work of Boulle fils during the 1730's.
A bureau-plat with identical scrolled mounts flanking the central drawer was sold anonymously, at Sotheby's New York, 20 May 1989, lot 324.
It is thought that Gerard purchased various models of furniture and mounts from the ébéniste André-Charles Boulle after his death in 1732 and one can certainly see much of Boulle's influence in Gérard's oeuvre. The heavy stance of this bureau, combined with the use of the brass- inlaid stringing on an ebonised ground is reminiscent of the little-known work of Boulle fils during the 1730's.
A bureau-plat with identical scrolled mounts flanking the central drawer was sold anonymously, at Sotheby's New York, 20 May 1989, lot 324.