333 - Étienne AVRIL (1748–1791)

Étienne AVRIL (1748–1791) Master cabinetmaker in Paris in 1774 Small mahogany chest of drawers from the Louis XVI period Made of mahogany and mahogany veneer, rectangular in shape, with four drawers arranged in three rows on the front, including two small drawers placed side by side at the top. Rounded, fluted front stiles extending into four tapered, fluted legs. Chiseled and gilded bronze hardware including rosette-shaped drawer knobs, lock plates, and footplates. Top of veined gray marble with rounded corners. Stamped twice with “E. AVRIL.” Louis XVI period, circa 1780–1790. Dimensions: H 86; W 62; D 39.5 cm Restorations and signs of wear. Étienne Avril Étienne Avril (1748–1791), known as Avril the Elder, was admitted as a master cabinetmaker in Paris on November 23, 1774. Initially based on Rue de Charenton, he ran a particularly active workshop and produced, among other things, chests of drawers, console tables, writing desks, bookcases, and chest-of-drawers, mostly in mahogany and satinwood. Archival documents highlight the significance of his work during the final decades of the Ancien Régime. Persée His Louis XVI-style work is characterized precisely by the features seen here: sober and rigorous architecture, large surfaces of mahogany, fluted uprights, tapered legs, and bronze accents used with restraint. He also worked for a prestigious clientele and supplied furniture intended for the court’s estates, notably Saint-Cloud.