French Art Deco Mercier & Chaleyssin Signed Mahogany Parquetry Semainier

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A spectacular scarce French Art Deco mahogany tall chest of drawers / semainier commode by important French ébéniste and designer … Read more A spectacular scarce French Art Deco mahogany tall chest of drawers / semainier commode by important French ébéniste and designer Mercier & Chaleyssin.

Exquisitely hand-crafted in France, circa early 1930s, exceptionally executed in luxurious Art Deco Streamline Moderne taste, finely crafted of rare and exotic richly figured plum-pudding mahogany and solid mahogany, having inset marble top, over case fitted with six banded parquetry drawers with high-quality dovetail joinery and patinated brass ring pulls, flanked by fluted rounded corner posts, rising on fluted tapered legs.

Signed,retaining the original maker's metal label affixed to drawer interior that reads:
Ameublement - Decoration
Tapisserie
Mercier & Chaleyssin
4. Rue Boileau, Lyon

Each lockplate marked:
B*SGDG FOA PARIS

Dimensions: (approx)
52" High, 29" Wide, 18" Deep

History:
FRANCISQUE CHALEYSSIN (1872-1951)

Francisque Chaleyssin was born in 1872. The Chaleyssin company was founded by the father. In 1896, his two sons carry on the family business. Francisque will be the creator.

Chaleyssin marries in 1895 the daughter of Eugène Baudin, painter from Lyon. He begins producing copies of ancient furniture.

Chaleyssin executes furniture for a Parisian company in the Faubourg Saint Antoine, Mercier Frères. This company wants to settle in Lyon, as a cosequence Chaleyssin moves in a building conceived for him and his friend, Tony Garnier, named Usine Mercier et Chaleyssin, located at rue Boileau.

In 1912, the two furniture manufacturers merged: the Mercier Frères establishments from the Faubourg Sainte-Antoine in Paris, and Francisque Chaleyssin working in Lyon. The company takes the name of Mercier & Chaleyssin.

Nevertheless Mercier will only have financial power as a partner, the artistic options being decided solely by the Chaleyssin brothers.

In 1920’s the first pieces are from English style or with some Louis the XVI reminiscences and with Paul Follot’s influence style.

Joseph, Francisque’s brother dies in 1923. Francisque is now alone at the head of the company and hires his son-in-law André Ducaroy. Ducaroy is the real designer of the modern furniture created until 1930. At this time, the production is focused on a slight Art Deco.

In 1925, for the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Chaleyssin shows a sideboard used as a curved writing desk, the Parisian and Lyon press are admiring.

For the Modern Decorative Art Exhibition in 1927, Chaleyssin conceives a modern bedroom in red lac with silver inlays. Furniture as beautiful as Jallot and Dunand’s.

In 1928, the Mercier and Chaleyssin company proposes a bookshop window in black walnut and a dining room with a very structured design, really geometrical and a constructivist black sitting room with white panels evoking a painting by Malevitch.

They gathered a team made up of the best French craftsman working with the best material. Very traditional at the begining, their production became modernist and seduced the rich french industrialist. La maison Mercier-Chaleyssin settled a workshop in the french port of LeHavre in order to participate in the decorating of luxury ocean liners.

From 1930, Mercier & Chaleyssin executes ocean liners interiors, fitting-out as for El Golea, El Kantara, Nicolas Paquet, Ile de France and the De Grasse. The company does many fitting-out for the first classes with prestigious lacquered, parchment or sharkskin doors.

In 1934, Chaleyssin leaves Mercier and in 1937, Mr Bollaert orders to Chaleyssin, the prefecture and the function appartment’s furniture. These realizations will be the last done in collaboration with his son-in-law André Ducaroy with whom he doesn’t get along anymore.

During the war, the factory runs thanks to the manufacture of aircraft propellers, while Chaleyssin returns to a classical furniture conception. When Chaleyssin gives a lecture in 1941 as regards Decorative Arts, he appears as a good theorician of modern furniture , and he advocates decorative arts during salons and insists on Art Nouveau erring ways.

After the war, ardent partisan of modernism, Chaleyssin solely goes off in style manufacturing.

The company until his death in 1951 will be content with reproducing existing models and will close its doors around 1960.

Detailed Condition Report:
Overall a superb museum quality example, in great original antique / vintage condition. Strong, sturdy, stable, and structurally sound, it presents splendidly, with nicely aged dark warm patina over the whole. Retaining original antique character marks and charm throughout, including scattered scars, very minor losses, removed escutcheons, blue ink stain to one drawer interior, old restoration to marble top, all wear consistent with age and use. Nothing that detracts from the aesthetics or functionality but only adds to the sophisticated vintage character, elegant warmth, and rich historical depth that can only be acquired over long periods of time.

Delivered cleaned, waxed, with hand rubbed polished French patina finish, ready for immediate use and generational enjoyment! See less