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Drop-front secretary on stand (Secrètaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet) (one of a pair) (part of a set), Paris, France

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Drop-front secretary on stand (Secrètaire à abattant or secrétaire en cabinet) (one of a pair) (part of a set), Paris, France

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A chinese lacquer cabinet with a carved wood frame and a painted floral motif, France, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Adam Weisweiler was a German-born cabinetmaker who worked in Paris in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was renowned for his exceptional ability to create furniture that combined elegant design with technical precision. Weisweiler's career began in the workshop of Jean-Francois Oeben, one of the most renowned cabinetmakers of the time. He went on to work for several other prominent cabinetmakers, including Martin Carlin and Jean-Henri Riesener, before setting up his own workshop in 1777. Weisweiler's furniture was characterised by a refined neoclassical style inspired by ancient Greek and Roman designs. He often used exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and tulipwood, and incorporated elaborate marquetry and ormolu mounts into his pieces. One of Weisweiler's most important commissions was to create furniture for Marie-Antoinette's private apartments at Versailles. He also produced pieces for other members of the French royal family, as well as wealthy aristocrats and collectors throughout Europe. Despite his success, Weisweiler's career was cut short by the upheavals of the French Revolution. He was forced to flee Paris in 1792 and spent several years in London before returning to France in 1797. He continued to produce furniture until his death in 1810, but never regained the prominence he had enjoyed before the Revolution. Today, Weisweiler's furniture is sought after by collectors and museums around the world. His pieces are valued for their exquisite craftsmanship, elegant design and historical significance as examples of French Neoclassical furniture.

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Date

1785 - 1795
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Source

Metropolitan Museum of Art
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Copyright info

Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication ("CCO 1.0 Dedication")

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european sculpture and decorative arts
european sculpture and decorative arts