18th coffee table by P. Migeon circa 1750

Elegant and refined small rectangular coffee table in precious wood veneer.
The lower part in amaranth wood veneer consists of four finely arched feet connected to slightly concave cross members.
It opens on the side with a long drawer with three compartments for the inkwell, the sand bucket and the sponge reserve.
The satin veneer top is curved with a slight "cabaret" rim, it has a central reserve decorated with wedges; it is delimited by two nets framing a satin ribbon whose wood threads are affixed perpendicular to those in the middle.

Discreet original bronze ornamentation including a small keyhole and foot slippers.

Old sales label from the 19th century at the bottom of the drawer: "N ° 537 signed Migeon, Otor"

"Migeon" stamp under the central crosspiece for Pierre IV Migeon (1696-1758) *

Softwood frame, interior drawer in Walnut.

Good state of conservation, restorations of use in marquetry.

Work of Pierre Migeon in Paris, Louis XV period around 1740-1750.

Dimensions:

Height: 68.5 cm; Width: 86 cm; Depth: 48.5 cm



* Pierre IV Migeon (1696-1758) is a cabinetmaker and merchant mercer received master in Paris around 1725.
Coming from a family of cabinetmakers, all named Pierre, Pierre IV Migeon is the son of Pierre III Migeon and Judith Measurer. Fourth in his line, he alone arouses all the interest of amateurs. Presumably formed in the factory of his father or his father-in-law, his activity took place in the first half of the 18th century when the use of the stamp became widespread. If its date of mastery remains hypothetical, its fame is known by many signed furniture, made from its factory in the rue de Charenton. The latter were delivered to a rich aristocratic clientele including the Duke of Orleans, the Duchess of Rohan, the Duchess of Epernon, Marshal de Noailles but also several bishops and ambassadors. From the 1740s, he delivered works for the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne and Menus-Plaisirs. It benefits from the protection of the Marquise de Pompadour. He also has many clients in France and abroad. If Migeon’s profession is that of cabinetmaker, he also works as a merchant. He then collaborated with many cabinetmakers - among the most renowned of his time - such as Bircklé, Canabas, Criaerd, Jacques Dubois, Lacroix, Saunier or even Topino.

Bibliography:


- Sophie Mouquin: "Pierre IV Migeon, 1696-1758, in the heart of a dynasty of Parisian cabinetmakers", Paris, éditions de l'Amateur, Les cahiers du Meubles collection, 2001



Our opinion :

The purity of the forms and the discretion of the bronzes which give pride of place to a decoration consisting solely of precious woods skillfully affixed are characteristic of Pierre Migeon's production.
The contrast of the essences used, in particular the deep and silky violet of amaranth and the luminosity of the satin are not without recalling the creations of the cabinetmaker Canabas (Joseph Gengenbach 1715-1797) who made his weapons in the workshop of Migeon before standing on its own two feet.
The absence of the jurande punch, the concave curve of the sleepers and the use of the first Migeon stamp (without the inverted N) * indicate that we are at the end of the 1740s, which moreover corresponds well to the presence of the young apprentice in the master's workshop. (Canabas is present in the list of workers of the widow Migeon until 1761).
Our living room table is one of those small "flying" pieces of furniture that the nobility loved under the old regime, it is this production that greatly contributed to the fame of Pierre Migeon.

* see page 68 of the book cited above.