Maison Giroux, Small piece of Lady's furniture with transformation, 19th century

Alphonse Giroux House
Small lady's piece of furniture with transformation
Signed "formerly Maison Giroux Paris".
Black lacquer, stained beech, bird's-eye maple (interior), applied bronzes and galvanized bronzes
19th century
Paris, circa 1883

H.111.5 - W.101 (open) and 58 (closed) - D. 38 cm

Our piece is representative of Alphonse Giroux's fascination with new industrial technologies applied to the decorative arts and furniture. With its Japanese aesthetic, it is decorated with an ornamental bestiary of flora and fauna: birds and wading birds among cherry blossoms. On either side of the conversion cabinet, two shelves serve as shelves.
The store was founded around 1799 by François-Simon-Alphonse Giroux (died in Paris in 1848), 7 rue du Cop Saint-Honoré: a novelty and stationery shop, then a cabinetmaker from 1834, under the name Alphonse Giroux. Taken over in 1838 by his sons Alphonse-Gustave (Paris, 1810-1886) and André (Paris, 1801-1879) under the name Alphonse Giroux et Cie. Transferred in 1857 to 43 boulevard des Capucines, it was subsequently sold in 1867 to Duvinage et Harinckouck.
By 1870, Duvinage was alone at the helm of Maison Giroux.
It was under Duvinage's direction that Maison Giroux exhibited furniture and objets d'art strongly inspired by Japonism. These pieces were adorned with panels of Japanese lacquer or treated with Martin varnish in the taste of oriental lacquers. At the Vienna World's Fair in 1873, Duvinage was awarded two "Medals of Merit" by the jury. From 1867, this new partnership enabled Duvinage to sign his furniture under the label "anciennement Maison Giroux Paris", like our piece.
Following his death, his widow succeeded him from 1874 to 1882, then A. Philippe and E. Arnut from 1883 to 1885.

The former Maison Giroux disappeared in 1885.

BIBLIOGRAPHY :
- D. Kisluk-Grosheid, 'Maison Giroux and its "Oriental" Marquetry Technique'
- Furniture History: The Journal of The Furniture History Society, 1998, Vol. 34
- Ledoux-Lebard Denise, Les Ebénistes du XIXe siècle, Les Editions de L'Amateur, Paris 1986

- Exhibition, Le Japonisme, March 27-April 15, 2003, Galerie Roxane Rodriguez, Paris

Ref: EV619FCCDA