.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Roger van der Cruse, known as Lacroix, maître in 1755.
Described as a poudreuse mécanique when it was sold in 1955, this elegant writing and dressing-table is decorated with delicate small-scale musical trophies within ovals and floral garlands. It is closely related to a table stamped 'RVLC', which is illustrated in G. Savage, French Decorative Art, London, 1969, fig. 40 and A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, Paris, 1989, p. 288, fig. 314. The similarities in shape, but particularly the marquetry decoration and ormolu mounts are such that we can assume that Lacroix was also responsible for the manufacture of the present table. Invariably inspired by prototypes developed by his brother-in-law Jean-François Oeben, small mechanical tables embellished with colourful and intricate marquetry in various degrees of refinement were produced by Lacroix throughout his career. However, his light Transitional examples with an entrelacs frieze above deep sides inlaid with various geometric patterns are particularly characteristic of his oeuvre of circa 1765-1770 (C. Roinet, Roger Vandercruse dit Lacroix, Paris, 2000, p. 66, fig 24). Both the present table and the stamped example differ from these as they were not conceived with an undertier and being slightly larger, which allows for a broader and more complex marquetry decoration.
Described as a poudreuse mécanique when it was sold in 1955, this elegant writing and dressing-table is decorated with delicate small-scale musical trophies within ovals and floral garlands. It is closely related to a table stamped 'RVLC', which is illustrated in G. Savage, French Decorative Art, London, 1969, fig. 40 and A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, Paris, 1989, p. 288, fig. 314. The similarities in shape, but particularly the marquetry decoration and ormolu mounts are such that we can assume that Lacroix was also responsible for the manufacture of the present table. Invariably inspired by prototypes developed by his brother-in-law Jean-François Oeben, small mechanical tables embellished with colourful and intricate marquetry in various degrees of refinement were produced by Lacroix throughout his career. However, his light Transitional examples with an entrelacs frieze above deep sides inlaid with various geometric patterns are particularly characteristic of his oeuvre of circa 1765-1770 (C. Roinet, Roger Vandercruse dit Lacroix, Paris, 2000, p. 66, fig 24). Both the present table and the stamped example differ from these as they were not conceived with an undertier and being slightly larger, which allows for a broader and more complex marquetry decoration.