Near Pair of Mahogany Consoles Dessertes by Maison Grohé, French, circa 1860

Stamped ‘GROHÉ / A PARIS’.

Grohé, Guillaume & Jean Michel

Guillaume and Jean-Michel Grohé, worked together from 1829 until Jean-Michel retired in 1861, the younger brother Guillaume continuing until, 1884. They exhibited at the French Industrial Exhibition in 1834, and in 1847 became known as Grohé Frères with Guillaume the principal partner.

Guillaume supplied many royal houses, including Queen Victoria, from 1862 onwards. He was also said to have made a great impression on, and supplied furniture to King Louis Philippe, Emperor Napoléon III and Empress Eugénie. Guillaume favored the Louis XVI style but made pieces in differing styles, exhibiting almost continually from 1834-1878. Guillaume was awarded the Légion d’Honneur in 1849.

The work of Grohé was praised in the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle as ‘supérieurs à ceux de Riesener et Gouthière’ (‘superior to those of Riesener and Gouthière’).

Literature:

Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions – London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851-1900, Antique Collectors’ Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; pps. 97, 98, 100, 230.

LeDoux – Lebard, Denise. Les Ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les Editions de L’Amateur, (Paris), 1984; pp. 237-244.

Mestdagh, Camille & Lécoules, Pierre. L’Ameublement d’Art Français, 1850-1900, Les Editions de L’Amateur, (Paris), 2010.

Approximate dimensions:

Height 164 cm x width 152 cm x depth 70 cm
Height 164 cm x width 127 cm x depth 62 cm.