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Lot Essay
Pierre Macret was appointed marchand-ébéniste privilégié du Roi suivant la cour et conseils de sa majesté in 1756.
The distinctive rayed cartouche flanked by lozenge cube parquetry and wrapped with scrolled ribbons is a feature particularly associated with the oeuvre of Pierre Macret. It is seen on a number of commodes by him:
- one sold anonymously, Christie's New York, 5 November 1986, lot 150
- one sold anonymously, Sotheby's Monaco, 30 November 1986, lot 1002
- one sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 10 June 1994, lot 23
- one illustrated in J. Nicolay, L'Art et la Manière des Maîtres Ebénistes Français, p. 308, fig. C.
PIERRE MACRET
Pierre Macret was born in 1727, married at the age of 20 and in December 1756 became marchand-ébéniste privilégié du Roi suivant la cour et conseils de sa majesté, replacing the widow of Latz. The records of the marchard-mercier Lazare Duvaux reveal a debt of 1169 livres to Macret by December 1758. At the same time he worked with the marchand Darnault, demonstrated by a commode which was sold anonymously at Christie's Monaco, 20 June 1994, lot 362. Newspaper advertisements reveal that he worked in the rue Saint Honoré in the hotel d'Auvergne, close to Saint-Roch, in 1763. He made embroidery frames as well as small chiffonnières with floral marquetry.
The marquis de Marigny, Directeur des Bâtiments, bought 1890 livres worth of furniture from him in 1770. In 1771 Macret changed his status and became marchand-mercier in Paris. He was fournisseur ordinaire des menus-plaisirs du Roi from 1764 to 1771. In accordance with his new status he chose a more comfortable house in the rue Saint-Honoré, in April 1772. It was a strategic choice, his new home being close to Dulac, Poirier and Granchez, which furthered his business. His son Pierre-François helped his father and in 1774, when he married the daughter of a fondeur, he also became a marchand-mercier.
Shortly before 1772 he delivered 1222 livres worth of furniture to the Dauphine Marie-Antoinette, and the marquis de Monconseil, father of princesse d'Henin, had ordered furniture valued at 4690 livres.
Macret's works are exhibited in many museums including the Nissim de Camondo, Paris; the Château de Versailles; the Cleveland Museum of Art; Hillwood House, Washington D.C. and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The distinctive rayed cartouche flanked by lozenge cube parquetry and wrapped with scrolled ribbons is a feature particularly associated with the oeuvre of Pierre Macret. It is seen on a number of commodes by him:
- one sold anonymously, Christie's New York, 5 November 1986, lot 150
- one sold anonymously, Sotheby's Monaco, 30 November 1986, lot 1002
- one sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 10 June 1994, lot 23
- one illustrated in J. Nicolay, L'Art et la Manière des Maîtres Ebénistes Français, p. 308, fig. C.
PIERRE MACRET
Pierre Macret was born in 1727, married at the age of 20 and in December 1756 became marchand-ébéniste privilégié du Roi suivant la cour et conseils de sa majesté, replacing the widow of Latz. The records of the marchard-mercier Lazare Duvaux reveal a debt of 1169 livres to Macret by December 1758. At the same time he worked with the marchand Darnault, demonstrated by a commode which was sold anonymously at Christie's Monaco, 20 June 1994, lot 362. Newspaper advertisements reveal that he worked in the rue Saint Honoré in the hotel d'Auvergne, close to Saint-Roch, in 1763. He made embroidery frames as well as small chiffonnières with floral marquetry.
The marquis de Marigny, Directeur des Bâtiments, bought 1890 livres worth of furniture from him in 1770. In 1771 Macret changed his status and became marchand-mercier in Paris. He was fournisseur ordinaire des menus-plaisirs du Roi from 1764 to 1771. In accordance with his new status he chose a more comfortable house in the rue Saint-Honoré, in April 1772. It was a strategic choice, his new home being close to Dulac, Poirier and Granchez, which furthered his business. His son Pierre-François helped his father and in 1774, when he married the daughter of a fondeur, he also became a marchand-mercier.
Shortly before 1772 he delivered 1222 livres worth of furniture to the Dauphine Marie-Antoinette, and the marquis de Monconseil, father of princesse d'Henin, had ordered furniture valued at 4690 livres.
Macret's works are exhibited in many museums including the Nissim de Camondo, Paris; the Château de Versailles; the Cleveland Museum of Art; Hillwood House, Washington D.C. and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.