Caspar Schneider (received Maitre March 15, 1786), Large Mahogany And Coromandel Lacquer Flat Desk

Large flat desk in mahogany and coromandel lacquer decorated with birds and flowers, all sides, opening with three drawers on the front, stamped "CASPAR SCHNEIDER" and hallmarks of jurande. Louis XVI style, early 19th century. SCHNEIDER (Caspar), originally from Germany, worked in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine around the middle of the reign of Louis XVI. He was commonly known by the only first name of Gaspard. In 1785, we find him quoted in the royal accounts for the payment of a secretary in veneer, for which he had made the cabinet-making and Thomire the bronzes. Soon after, on March 15, 1786, he obtained master's degrees. This skilful craftsman continued to supply works to the Crown and also received commissions for the particular service of the Queen. He then lived in the Grande rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine. Ruined by the Revolution, he had to close his studio and retired to rue Beautreillis. In December 1799, he lost his wife, who was called Marie-Catherine Œben, but does not seem to have had any family connection with the famous cabinetmaker of Louis XV. He was still living in 1806, still burdened with debt and notoriously insolvent. To sign his work, the master used a stamp where his first name appears in full, spelled in German: CASPAR SCHNEIDER. His mark was discovered, among others, on a precious pedestal table from the furniture of Marie-Antoinette in Saint-Cloud and which adorned the Petit Trianon. This oval-shaped table, very thin in body, rests on four slightly oblique legs, connected by spacers which support a casserole dish. The top is in white marble set in an open gallery. The rest of the furniture, in mahogany wood, has gilt bronze appliques, antique patinated bronze motifs, Sèvres biscuit medallions and paintings under glass in the style of Degault. The whole has lightness, freshness, shine, but lacks a little grace and produces an effect more bizarre than pleasant. We know of other works by the same cabinetmaker, also executed with great care.