Joseph Gengenbach Dit Canabas (1715-1797), Mahogany Cooler, Eighteenth

Mahogany cooler opening with a belted drawer resting on a molded fluted base, joined by two crotch shelves ending in bronze shoes and castors. Top lined with white marble, and the rear contains two original silver metal buckets. Stamped J. Canabap and JME. 18th century. CANABAS Joseph Gengenbach Joseph Gengenbach dit Canabas (1715-1797) - master's degree obtained on April 1, 1766: Of German origin, Canabas - whose real name is Joseph Gengenbach - arrived in Paris in the 1740s. Both cabinetmaker and carpenter, he uses both veneer and solid wood. His talents were employed at that time by famous cabinetmakers, such as Jean-François Oeben or Pierre Migeon while he worked as a privileged worker in the rue de Charonne. The workers' book of the latter, who is also a merchant, testifies to the deliveries of furniture made by Canabas until 1761. Once he obtained his master's degrees, he deploys his activity from the main street of Faubourg Saint-Antoine in the service of 'a private clientele and a few reputable merchants such as the Presle brothers. Canabas then established itself as a specialist in fancy, practical and often new design furniture. He thus produced a large number of small and neat pieces of furniture during his career. His way is very particular: he uses mahogany wood of a rare quality, a remarkable color, a very tight grain and he stands out in the perfection of their cabinetry. Extreme sobriety is required and leaves room for any decor only with a few discreet moldings. The bronzes are practically absent. Some models belong to the Transition style with still slightly curved feet. But most of them relate to a Louis XVI style. They are scrupulously studied to serve specific uses. Among the first in France, Canabas will design furniture intended for use during meals or meetings in the absence of servants, light furniture, easy to move, most often fitted with casters. The most typical are known in a fairly large number of copies: cooler, pedestal table, music stand, "silent servant" or "maid", reading table or even gardener. After the Revolution passed, prosperity returned to Canabas again until his death under the Directory. At the time of its sale, its workshop still includes, according to the posters and notices, a whole series of "secretaries, chests of drawers, pedestal tables, desks, sliding tables and glides, cylinder nightstands, consoles, men's and women's toilets. , chiffoniers, office chairs and other objects, mostly in solid mahogany, adorned with copper and in the best taste ”. MUSEUMS Secreaire in drawer - standing writing desk, It rests on 4 straight legs with cut sides adorned with grooves and terminated by shoes fitted with wheels. It has an inclined desk covered with long grain morocco decorated with small irons with an antique frieze and a central floret with doves pecking out. a drawer under the desk, and 2 crotch shelves, the middle one concealing a second drawer. 2 side zippers at the top. - N ° MAD797 - Musée des Arts Décoratifs - Lyon Mechanical table - Musée Jacquemart-André Refreshoir - Musée Nissim de Camondo Pupitre - Cleveland Museum of Art BIBLIOGRAPHY French Furniture of the XVIIIth Century - Pierre Kjellberg - Les Editions de l'Amateur - 1989 Les 18th century cabinetmakers - Count François de Salverte - Editions of Art and History - 1934 The Art and manner of the French master cabinetmakers in the 18th century. - Nicolay Jean - Pygmalion - 1976