Pair of Cabinets

In France, the eighteenth-century was one of the most vibrant and intensely creative periods in the history of furniture. Supported by a wealthy and appreciative aristocracy and regulated by a powerful guild system under the king’s control, French cabinetmakers produced magnificent objects unrivaled by any other country or group of artists.

Étienne Levasseur is considered one of the foremost ébénistes (cabinetmakers) of the eighteenth century. He trained in the workshop of André Charles Boulle, who specialized in sumptuous furniture noted for its elaborate tortoiseshell marquetry and brass. Levasseur was expert in repairing and copying Boulle furniture, and he was one of the first French ébénistes to use mahogany, which he often inlaid with brass. In 1767 Levasseur was named a maître (master), and was allowed to stamp his work with his name. This pair of cabinets carries Levasseur’s mark, which dates them to a time after 1767.

The Art Museum’s cabinets embody many popular eighteenth-century French decorative elements. Each cabinet is made of an oak carcass with ebony veneer and pewter inlay. The cabinets are inset with Japanese lacquer panels - a feature in great demand in the mid-eighteenth century - depicting vases of flowers and landscapes with mother-of-pearl appliqué. The gilt bronze mounts on the feet reflect the acanthus motif also seen on the gilt bronze frieze under the black marble tops.