AN 18TH CENTURY LOUIS XV/XVI TRANSITIONAL ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY, ROSEWOOD AND KINGWOOD COMMODE, BY ETIENNE AVRIL, CIRCA 1770

The Gris, Saint Anne marble top above two long breakfront shaped drawers with  butterfly wing amaranth marquetry,  gilt-bronze mounts, in the form of wreaths, ribbon ties, oak leaves and acorns, on cabriole legs terminating in cast paw sabots, stamped ETIENNE AVRIL
  
Etienne APRIL was received Maître ébéniste (Master ebeniste ) on November 23, 1774

H: 86 - L: 128 - D: 59 cm 

Etienne Avril was a French master ébéniste (cabinetmaker) who worked during the reign of Louis XVI. He achieved the rank of master in 1774 and worked at the Rue Charenton. He was sometimes known as "Avril the Elder" to distinguish him from his brother, Pierre, who was also an ébéniste. He was a respected member of the furniture trade and gained renown as a supplier to Marie Antoinette, helping her refurnish the Chateau de Saint Cloud.

His works were Neoclassical style, which sought to emulate the aesthetics of ancient Roman and Greek furniture. As with other ébénistes of that style.  His marquetry work was very fine and elegant. The furniture he created in this period was  very classical with a fine geometrical shaped body, with sharp edges and delicately shaped legs.  The marquetry panels of plain uniform veneer, of exotict and rare inlays framed in very narrow borders.  The  mouts were very fine and of gilt bronze.

Shortly before the French Revolution, he left the business he had built at Rue Charenton. Historical sources differ as to whether he closed the shop or passed it to his brother to continue, but they agree that thereafter he specialized in trading furniture from a store in nearby Porte Saint-Antoine.