Antoine-Robert Gaudreau[1] (c. 1680 – 6 May 1746) was a Parisianébéniste who was appointed Ébéniste du Roi and was the principal supplier of furniture for the royal châteaux during the early years of Louis XV's reign. He is largely known through the copious documentation of the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne; he entered the service of the Garde-Meuble in 1726. However, since his career was spent before the practice of stamping Paris-made furniture began (1751), no stamped piece by Gaudreau exists and few identifications have been made, with the exception of royal pieces that were so ambitious and distinctive that they can be recognized from their meticulous inventory descriptions.
Commode (1745), delivered for Fontainebleau, now in the Cabinet Interieure de la Dauphine, Versailles
Commode (1739) for Louis XV's bedchamber at Versailles, now in the Wallace Collection
In one case, the identification of a royal commode permits the attribution to Gaudreau of several similar ones. The commode in question, formerly in the collection of Alphonse de Rothschild, was delivered by Gaudreau on 4 August 1738 intended for the King's bedroom at Château La Muette.[2] The gilt-bronze mounts, by which André Bouthemy attributed the commode to Charles Cressent,[3] who may have been responsible for modelling them. Several commodes following this model exist, including one in the Jones Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. One of the group bears on its gilt-bronze mounts the crowned C tax stamp that was used in 1745-49,[4] suggesting that the model remained current for several years.
The first French reference to a table servante, a dumb waiter or tiered serving table with recesses for cooling wine for suppers free of protocol and servants, occurs in a bill of Gaudreau in 1735, of furniture delivered to Versailles.[5]
His premises were in rue Princesse, apart from the cabinet-making neighborhoods of Paris. He was elected syndic of the cabinet-makers' guild, the Corporation des Menuisiers-Ébénistes in 1744.
He was succeeded in his workshop, for a brief time, by his son François-Antoine Gaudreau (died 1751), also Ébéniste du Roi.
His most famous pieces are:
The commode veneered with kingwood and satiné that he delivered for the King's Bedchamber at Versailles in 1739. It has gilt-bronze mounts by Jacques Caffieri, stamped FAIT PAR CAFFIERI. The commode is now in the Wallace Collection, London (Cat.no. F86).[6]
The commode-médaillier, a medal cabinet in the form of a commode, delivered in 1739 for the king's use in Louis XV's Cabinet à Pans at Versailles. In this commission Gaudreau followed a design provided by the Slodtz brothers. It is in the Cabinet des Médailles at the Bibliothèque Nationale.
The low cupboard-bookcase delivered in 1744 for the king's Cabinet d'Angle at Versailles.
The commode à la Régence (illustrated above), delivered for the Dauphine's apartment at the Château de Fontainebleau in 1745. It is now at Versailles.
A bureau plat now in the Archives Nationales. (Verlet 1945).
Notes
^Also spelled Gaudreaus and Gaudreaux in documents.
^Given the Garde Meuble inventory number 1131, the commode was identified by Pierre Verlet from inventory descriptions and a meticulous 19th-century copy which bore the inventory number.
^Boutemy, "Cressent: les motifs qui permettent de le reconnaître", Connaissance des Arts136 (June 1963:70-71), noted by Hunter 1973:96, illus. 97 fig 4.
^Francis J.B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection I 1966:146-50.
^Noted by Penelope Hunter, "A Royal taste: Louis XV, 1738", Metropolitan Museum Journal7 (1973:89-113 :92 note 21).
^Wallace Collection Online: Louis XV's commode Gaudreau is spelled Gaudreaus.
References
Francis J. B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection vol. II (Metropolitan Museum of Art), 1966, p 547.
F.J.B. Watson, The Wallace Collection: Furniture
Pierre Verlet, 1945. Le Mobilier royal français I: Meubles conservés en France (Paris)
February 04, 2023
antoine, gaudreau, antoine, robert, gaudreau, 1680, 1746, parisian, ébéniste, appointed, Ébéniste, principal, supplier, furniture, royal, châteaux, during, early, years, louis, reign, largely, known, through, copious, documentation, garde, meuble, couronne, en. Antoine Robert Gaudreau 1 c 1680 6 May 1746 was a Parisian ebeniste who was appointed Ebeniste du Roi and was the principal supplier of furniture for the royal chateaux during the early years of Louis XV s reign He is largely known through the copious documentation of the Garde Meuble de la Couronne he entered the service of the Garde Meuble in 1726 However since his career was spent before the practice of stamping Paris made furniture began 1751 no stamped piece by Gaudreau exists and few identifications have been made with the exception of royal pieces that were so ambitious and distinctive that they can be recognized from their meticulous inventory descriptions Commode 1745 delivered for Fontainebleau now in the Cabinet Interieure de la Dauphine Versailles Commode 1739 for Louis XV s bedchamber at Versailles now in the Wallace Collection In one case the identification of a royal commode permits the attribution to Gaudreau of several similar ones The commode in question formerly in the collection of Alphonse de Rothschild was delivered by Gaudreau on 4 August 1738 intended for the King s bedroom at Chateau La Muette 2 The gilt bronze mounts by which Andre Bouthemy attributed the commode to Charles Cressent 3 who may have been responsible for modelling them Several commodes following this model exist including one in the Jones Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum London One of the group bears on its gilt bronze mounts the crowned C tax stamp that was used in 1745 49 4 suggesting that the model remained current for several years The first French reference to a table servante a dumb waiter or tiered serving table with recesses for cooling wine for suppers free of protocol and servants occurs in a bill of Gaudreau in 1735 of furniture delivered to Versailles 5 His premises were in rue Princesse apart from the cabinet making neighborhoods of Paris He was elected syndic of the cabinet makers guild the Corporation des Menuisiers Ebenistes in 1744 He was succeeded in his workshop for a brief time by his son Francois Antoine Gaudreau died 1751 also Ebeniste du Roi His most famous pieces are The commode veneered with kingwood and satine that he delivered for the King s Bedchamber at Versailles in 1739 It has gilt bronze mounts by Jacques Caffieri stamped FAIT PAR CAFFIERI The commode is now in the Wallace Collection London Cat no F86 6 The commode medaillier a medal cabinet in the form of a commode delivered in 1739 for the king s use in Louis XV s Cabinet a Pans at Versailles In this commission Gaudreau followed a design provided by the Slodtz brothers It is in the Cabinet des Medailles at the Bibliotheque Nationale The low cupboard bookcase delivered in 1744 for the king s Cabinet d Angle at Versailles The commode a la Regence illustrated above delivered for the Dauphine s apartment at the Chateau de Fontainebleau in 1745 It is now at Versailles A bureau plat now in the Archives Nationales Verlet 1945 Notes Edit Also spelled Gaudreaus and Gaudreaux in documents Given the Garde Meuble inventory number 1131 the commode was identified by Pierre Verlet from inventory descriptions and a meticulous 19th century copy which bore the inventory number Boutemy Cressent les motifs qui permettent de le reconnaitre Connaissance des Arts 136 June 1963 70 71 noted by Hunter 1973 96 illus 97 fig 4 Francis J B Watson The Wrightsman Collection I 1966 146 50 Noted by Penelope Hunter A Royal taste Louis XV 1738 Metropolitan Museum Journal 7 1973 89 113 92 note 21 Wallace Collection Online Louis XV s commode Gaudreau is spelled Gaudreaus References EditFrancis J B Watson The Wrightsman Collection vol II Metropolitan Museum of Art 1966 p 547 F J B Watson The Wallace Collection Furniture Pierre Verlet 1945 Le Mobilier royal francais I Meubles conserves en France Paris Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antoine Gaudreau amp oldid 1087149525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
