About the artist

Etienne Doirat was probably born around 1675-1680 and lived after his marriage in 1704 in the Grande Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine. In 1726 he moved to the entrance of the Faubourg Saint-Antoine near the Bastille.
On his death in 1732 his studio had eleven employees. The inventory mentioned no fewer than 200 pieces of furniture, finished or unfinished, including commodes, bureaux-plats and bookcases, but also ‘sécretaires en pentes’ entirely to the taste of the time. The style and quality of Doirats’ furniture equals that of André Charles Boulle in both structure and finishing, as well as in the application of bronze ornaments. This style precedes similar furniture by Charles Cressent (1685-1768).
According to the inventory that is drawn up after the death of Doirat, his stock contained many models in lead, rough castings, and unfinished workpieces, to serve as bronze decorations for his furniture. This proves that Doirat kept his bronze models exclusively to himself.
Doirat was one of the few cabinet makers who stamped his name on his work far before this was mandated by the Jurande of Menuisiers-Ebénistes in 1743. This obligation was ratified by the king in 1751. The audit by the "Jurande" served not only tax purposes, but was also a means of quality control with regard to reliability and flaws in the materials used. All of this had to be perfect before the "JME"-brand was applied.

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