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拍品專文
Roger van der Cruse, dit Lacroix, maître in 1755.
Although achieving his maîtrise in the mid-1750s, Lacroix is best known for his elegant tables in the Transitional style of the 1760s and 1770s. Related by marriage both to Jean-François Oeben and Jean-Henri Riesener, Lacroix worked in the early years of his career both with Oeben and with Gilles Joubert, often on commissions for the Garde Meuble Royal, and also worked extensively with the marchand-mercier Simon-Philippe Poirier.
He perfected the type of useful elegant occasional table (perhaps as a result of his frequent collaborations with Poirier) and the distinctive marquetry on these tables, with a trellis of contrasting woods enclosing cornflowers, was a particular leitmotif; indeed he may well have sold marquetry panels to other craftsmen and the cornflower and trellis pattern can be seen on small tables and secretaires stamped by Nicolas Petit, Martin Carlin and Geoffrey Dester (G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor , London, 1974, vol. II, p. 486). The oval shape, double-curved cabriole legs and the angle mounts are also recurring motifs on small tables by Lacroix.
A small group of tables a écrire of this model with cornflowers by Lacroix are known:
- one in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, purchased by George IV in 1829;
- one at Waddesdon Manor (G. de Bellaigue, op. cit., pp. 484-487, no. 98);
- one previously in the collection of Jacques Lindon, sold Sotheby's London, 26 June 1964, lot 138; bought by Rosenberg & Stiebel, New York; then in the Collection of Henry Ford II, sold Sotheby's New York, 25 February 1978, lot 76;
- the present near pair of tables.
A number of further examples of this model with minor variants are known including:
- a further pair in the Riahi Collection, the following lot in this catalogue (with three-quarter rather than full galleries);
- one formerly in the collection of Mrs. Henry Walters (C. Packer, Paris Furniture by the Master Ebénistes, Newport, 1956, fig. 120);
- one with the unusual spring-loaded drawers to the side and kidney-shaped undertier, and with inlaid swirling acanthus to the top and undertier, sold from the collection of André Meyer, Christie's New York, 26 October 2001, lot 40;
- one from the Keck collection, La Lanterne, Bel Air, sold Sotheby's New York, 5-6 December 1991, lot 258;
- one from the collection of Franco Cesari, sold Sotheby's Paris, 29 June 2004, lot 81.
It is very rare to find two virtually identical tables by Lacroix together, such as the present near pair united by the Riahis in consecutive years during the 1970s, and the following lot, let alone two near pairs in a single collection.
Although achieving his maîtrise in the mid-1750s, Lacroix is best known for his elegant tables in the Transitional style of the 1760s and 1770s. Related by marriage both to Jean-François Oeben and Jean-Henri Riesener, Lacroix worked in the early years of his career both with Oeben and with Gilles Joubert, often on commissions for the Garde Meuble Royal, and also worked extensively with the marchand-mercier Simon-Philippe Poirier.
He perfected the type of useful elegant occasional table (perhaps as a result of his frequent collaborations with Poirier) and the distinctive marquetry on these tables, with a trellis of contrasting woods enclosing cornflowers, was a particular leitmotif; indeed he may well have sold marquetry panels to other craftsmen and the cornflower and trellis pattern can be seen on small tables and secretaires stamped by Nicolas Petit, Martin Carlin and Geoffrey Dester (G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor , London, 1974, vol. II, p. 486). The oval shape, double-curved cabriole legs and the angle mounts are also recurring motifs on small tables by Lacroix.
A small group of tables a écrire of this model with cornflowers by Lacroix are known:
- one in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, purchased by George IV in 1829;
- one at Waddesdon Manor (G. de Bellaigue, op. cit., pp. 484-487, no. 98);
- one previously in the collection of Jacques Lindon, sold Sotheby's London, 26 June 1964, lot 138; bought by Rosenberg & Stiebel, New York; then in the Collection of Henry Ford II, sold Sotheby's New York, 25 February 1978, lot 76;
- the present near pair of tables.
A number of further examples of this model with minor variants are known including:
- a further pair in the Riahi Collection, the following lot in this catalogue (with three-quarter rather than full galleries);
- one formerly in the collection of Mrs. Henry Walters (C. Packer, Paris Furniture by the Master Ebénistes, Newport, 1956, fig. 120);
- one with the unusual spring-loaded drawers to the side and kidney-shaped undertier, and with inlaid swirling acanthus to the top and undertier, sold from the collection of André Meyer, Christie's New York, 26 October 2001, lot 40;
- one from the Keck collection, La Lanterne, Bel Air, sold Sotheby's New York, 5-6 December 1991, lot 258;
- one from the collection of Franco Cesari, sold Sotheby's Paris, 29 June 2004, lot 81.
It is very rare to find two virtually identical tables by Lacroix together, such as the present near pair united by the Riahis in consecutive years during the 1970s, and the following lot, let alone two near pairs in a single collection.