.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Germain Landrin, maître in 1738.
With its distinctive, sinuous waved apron and mouvmenté bombé shape, this bureau plat shares much in common with the documented oeuvre of the marchand-ébéniste Pierre II Migeon. It is interesting to note, therefore, that Landrin worked for Migeon for 15 years from 1742, and many pieces stamped by Migeon were undoubtedly made by Landrin himself. Landrin also supplied furniture to Jean-François Oeben and Denis Genty, before finally deciding in 1763 to sell his furniture directly to private clients from his atelier in the rue de Charonne with the assistance of his son.
A very similar bureau plat signed Etienne Carel was sold from the collection of Victor Rothschild Esq., 148 Piccadilly, London, Sotheby's London, 19 April 1937, lot 297. Three other related bureaux of the same rare, exaggerated bombé shape are known - one, with apparently identical mounts to either side of the central drawer, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 2 December 1976, lot 76; another, stamped by Jean-Charles Ellaume (maître in 1754) was sold anonymously at Sotheby's New York, 4 November 1989 ($44,000); and a third example, stamped by Jean-Georges Schlichtig (maître in 1765), was sold anonymously at Sotheby's New York, 17 November 1984, lot 228 ($57,750).
With its distinctive, sinuous waved apron and mouvmenté bombé shape, this bureau plat shares much in common with the documented oeuvre of the marchand-ébéniste Pierre II Migeon. It is interesting to note, therefore, that Landrin worked for Migeon for 15 years from 1742, and many pieces stamped by Migeon were undoubtedly made by Landrin himself. Landrin also supplied furniture to Jean-François Oeben and Denis Genty, before finally deciding in 1763 to sell his furniture directly to private clients from his atelier in the rue de Charonne with the assistance of his son.
A very similar bureau plat signed Etienne Carel was sold from the collection of Victor Rothschild Esq., 148 Piccadilly, London, Sotheby's London, 19 April 1937, lot 297. Three other related bureaux of the same rare, exaggerated bombé shape are known - one, with apparently identical mounts to either side of the central drawer, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 2 December 1976, lot 76; another, stamped by Jean-Charles Ellaume (maître in 1754) was sold anonymously at Sotheby's New York, 4 November 1989 ($44,000); and a third example, stamped by Jean-Georges Schlichtig (maître in 1765), was sold anonymously at Sotheby's New York, 17 November 1984, lot 228 ($57,750).