Louis XV Period Sloping Desk, Stamped, Antoine Mathieu Criard

Louis XV period curved sloping desk in rosewood veneer, palisander, light woods and stained woods, inlaid with bouquets of flowers and foliage, ribbon and birds in reserves. It opens with a flap revealing four small curved drawers on the front, one of which contains its original inkwell, three lockers, a compartment, a secret and two drawers in the belt. It rests on four arched legs ending in bronze sabots. Dimensions: H. 89.5 - W. 79 - D. 43 cm Stamped AMCRIARD and hallmark of the JME Antoine Mathieu Criard, (1724-1787) Master on April 22, 1747 Very good condition Antoine-Mathieu Criard, son of Mathieu Criaerd, did not open his own workshop until two years after receiving his mastery in 1747. He set up successively on rue de Charenton, rue de Richelieu then rue Saint Thomas-du-Louvre before settling permanently on Rue du Bac where he succeeded his colleague Charles Chevallier. He produced Louis XV period furniture, of fine quality, in rosewood veneer, violet wood or leaf veneer, inlaid with flowers or branches in often raw and clashing tones. There is little mention of Transition style furniture and no Louis XVI style furniture, which would tend to prove that Antoine-Mathieu Criard did not continue his activity as a cabinetmaker for long. Public collections Château de Compiègne Museum of Decorative Arts – Paris Osterreichisches Museum – Vienna Bibliography French Furniture of the 18th Century - Pierre Kjellberg - Les Editions de l'Amateur – 2008 Cabinetmakers of the 18th Century - Comte François de Salverte - Les éditions d'Art et d'Histoire - 1934