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Lot Essay
The firm of Grohé was established in the mid-1820s in Paris by Guillaume and Jean-Michel Grohé. They exhibited at the major exhibitions throughout the 19th century and supplied furniture to the French Royal households and Queen Victoria. Following Guillaume's retirement in 1861, the younger brother Jean-Michel managed the business until 1884, when it ceased trading.
Grohé’s excellence was recognised by reviews of the day such as Le Figaro: ‘[...] digne continuateur de Boulle, Gouthière et des Riesener [...]. Il a assuré la prépondérance du goût français dans l'ameublement de luxe et les modèles que son beau talent a créés assurent pour longtemps à notre pays cette glorieuse suprématie artistique’ (19 January 1884).
At the 1867 Paris Exposition universelle Grohé showed a comparable cabinet, even more elaborately embellished, but sharing with the present lot the same design of ormolu mounts of ribbon-hung drapery to the flanking doors (see engraving, Lot 115). A closely related meuble d'appui is illustrated in P. Lecoules, Art Mobilier Parisien, 1850-1900, Paris, 1983, p. 77.
Grohé’s excellence was recognised by reviews of the day such as Le Figaro: ‘[...] digne continuateur de Boulle, Gouthière et des Riesener [...]. Il a assuré la prépondérance du goût français dans l'ameublement de luxe et les modèles que son beau talent a créés assurent pour longtemps à notre pays cette glorieuse suprématie artistique’ (19 January 1884).
At the 1867 Paris Exposition universelle Grohé showed a comparable cabinet, even more elaborately embellished, but sharing with the present lot the same design of ormolu mounts of ribbon-hung drapery to the flanking doors (see engraving, Lot 115). A closely related meuble d'appui is illustrated in P. Lecoules, Art Mobilier Parisien, 1850-1900, Paris, 1983, p. 77.