A French bronze-mounted ebonised and japanned lacquered secretaire-commode

BY MAISON GIROUX, PARIS, THIRD-QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Details

A French bronze-mounted ebonised and japanned lacquered secretaire-commode
By Maison Giroux, Paris, Third-quarter 19th century
The rectangular top decorated in colours with foliage and an exotic bird, the sides with similarly-decorated floral panels, the front set with four drawers, the top drawer with a hinged fall-front revealing two gradiated shelves and a sliding writing surface, the drawer fronts applied with bronze foliage, butterflies and insects, above a wavy apron and short cabriole legs, one lock engraved MON GIROUX/PARIS
34 5/8 in. (88 cm.) high; 19½ in. (49.5 cm.) wide; 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) deep

Provenance

Sotheby's New York, 29-30 October, 1982, Lot 134.

Literature

D. Ledoux-Lebard Le Mobilier Français du XIX siècle, 1989, p.227 (illustrated).

Lot Essay

The Maison Alphonse Giroux was established in 1799 by François-Simon-Alphonse Giroux (d. 1848), with premises at 7, rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré, Paris. Specialising in the production and sale of small items of furniture, objets d'art, de fantaisie et de papeterie, the firm was responsible for the bedroom suite supplied to Charles X in 1826. In 1838, the company was taken over by Giroux's two sons, Alphonse-Gustave (d. 1886) and André (d. 1874), who under the name of Giroux & Cie. continued and expanded the business, showing and frequently winning medals at the Exposition des produits de l'industrie française. In 1857, the business relocated to 43, boulevard des Capucines, where it remained until 1867, when it was taken over by Duvinage and Harinckouk.

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