History of Ébénistes and Guild Regulations
– Ébénistes were craftsmen who made case furniture, either veneered or painted.
– Parisian guild regulations required the application of painted varnishes to take place in separate workshops.
– The guilds in Paris and elsewhere were abolished during the French Revolution in 1791, leading to the relaxation of regulations.
– Parisian chairmakers were then able to produce veneered chairs, similar to London furniture-makers.
Amalgamation of Trades and Transition to Industry
– The relaxation of guild rules and the abolition of guilds in 1791 led to the merging of different trades.
– Chairmakers and other seat furniture makers began to use veneering techniques, previously exclusive to ébénistes.
– The distinction between ébénistes and other craftsmen became less pronounced.
– From the mid-19th century, ébénistes and menuisiers often combined under a single roof, marking the transition from craft to industry.
– In Germany, a line of high polished production in Frommern followed the ideas of the royal Hofebenist.
Influence of German and Low Countries Ébénistes
– From the mid-17th century to the 18th century, several ébénistes of German and Low Countries extraction were prominent in Parisian furniture-making.
– Pierre Verlet’s book ‘Les Ébénistes Du XVIII Siècle Français’ provides insights into notable ébénistes.
– ‘French Furniture of the Eighteenth Century’ by Pierre Verlet and Penelope Hunter-Stiebel is a recommended resource.
– G. Janneau’s ‘Les ateliers parisiens débénistes et de menuisiers aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles’ explores Parisian workshops.
– Alexandre Pradère’s ‘French Furniture Makers: The Art of the Ébéniste from Louis XIV to the Revolution’ is a standard modern text.
Abolition of Guilds and Shift in the Furniture-Making Industry
– Parisian guild regulations required painted varnishes to be applied in separate workshops.
– The French Revolution in 1791 led to the abolition of guilds in Paris and elsewhere.
– The relaxation of guild rules allowed Parisian chairmakers to produce veneered chairs.
– London furniture-makers had already been making veneered chairs since the early 18th century, imitating Chinese designs.
– The abolition of guilds marked a significant shift in the furniture-making industry.
Material and Style Evolution
– Seat furniture in the Empire style was often veneered with mahogany.
– Later, pale woods also became popular for veneering.
– The use of veneering techniques expanded with the relaxation of guild rules.
– The craft of ébénistes began to make way for the industry from the mid-19th century onward.
– The combination of ébénistes and menuisiers under a single furnisher’s roof became more common. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89b%C3%A9niste
