Carlton Hobbs has been honored to present an exceptional piece of art furniture made by the eminent conservator and ébéniste, Yannick Chastang. It is the first time Carlton Hobbs has marketed a piece by a contemporary designer, and we feel this cabinet is relevant to our collection as it embodies the artistry and quality of the Golden Age of cabinetmaking, whose final flourishing was the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 30s.
Although small pockets of high quality production still exist, this cabinet, in its conception, has an exceptional understanding of subtlety and restraint, redolent of late 18th century French design. The quality is undoubtedly informed by Mr. Chastang’s years of working on the greatest examples of 18th century Gallic pieces. Read more... (634 words, 4 images, estimated 2:32 mins reading time)
This chair belongs to a group of seating furniture known as “Vierlander” chairs.
These chairs originated in Prussia in the 18th century in the province of Vierlande in northern Germany, southeast of Hamburg. The area, populated by provincial craftsmen, was agriculturally rich and these chairs are “characterized by their intricate inlay of local woods.” The chairs customarily commemorate important family occasions, such as a birth or marriage. In the latter case, there would be a pair of such pieces, with the bride and groom each “[having] a chair made for the installation of the new house.” The family name and date of the ceremony was inlaid in marquetry, along with figural and floral decoration. Read more... (389 words, 2 images, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814) is one of the most renowned Italian cabinetmakers of the 18th and early 19th century. Particularly famed 
is his work in marquetry, on commodes, chests, writing desks and tables. Neoclassical in design, his pieces employ a variety of richly-colored woods, geometric shapes, and intricate patterns. Read more... (538 words, 6 images, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
André-Charles Boulle (11 November 1642 – 28 February 1732) was a French cabinetmaker and Ébéniste du Roi for Louis XIV. He was born in Paris and was elected to the Académie St. Luc as such, though he also considered himself to be “an architect, mosaicist, engraver, and bronze-worker.”1 In 1672 he became cabinetmaker to the king, on the recommendation of Louis’ minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert. He worked continuously for the royal family in addition to taking on private important commissions.
Figure 2
Read more... (337 words, 2 images, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)
