MIGEON, Pierre II

The eighteenth century in France was an extraordinary period for the European decorative arts. It was characterized by an intense craft activity. There were many orders from the aristocracy and other grand families for interior and exterior ornaments: fireplaces, buffets, oven grates, marble basins, garden vases, braziers, chimney pieces, gilded bronze chandeliers, etc. Gifts of porcelain and objets d’art were presented by the court of France to foreign courts. The eighteenth century teemed with ideas, but it above all entailed promotion of objects.

Of the numerous cabinet-makers from the Migeon family, Pierre II stands out as the official supplier to Madame de Pompadour; he produced her wonderful Vergennes desk, in which the fine balance between marquetry motifs and bronze decoration conveys a delicate yet impressive elegance. It is a representative example of high French tradition.

This Louis XV style Louis XV bomb� commode is stamped MIGEON. It is inlaid overall with a floral trellis parquetry, with a rouge marble serpentine-fronted shaped rectangular top above two long drawers with gilt bronze foliate handles and decorated with a central C-scroll cartouche with a floral spray and butterflies within an inlaid rocaille frame, the shaped sides above a waved apron on splayed legs.

This Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted marquetry desk is stamped MIGEON.