Maison Giroux, Small lady's piece of furniture for transformation, XIXe

Our furniture is representative of the fascination that Alphonse Giroux had with new industrial technologies applied to decorative arts and furniture. With a Japanese aesthetic, it is decorated with an ornamental bestiary bringing together fauna and flora: birds and wading birds moving among cherry blossoms. On each side of the transformation unit, two shelves act as shelves.
The store was created around 1799 by François-Simon-Alphonse Giroux (died in Paris in 1848), 7 rue du Cop Saint-Honoré: trading in novelty objects and stationery, then cabinetmaking from 1834, under the name 'Alphonse Giroux. Taken over in 1838 by his sons Alphonse-Gustave (Paris, 1810-1886) and André (Paris, 1801-1879) under the company name: Alphonse Giroux et Cie. Transferred in 1857 to 43 boulevard des Capucines, it was subsequently sold in 1867 to Duvinage and Harinckouck.
In 1870, Duvinage was alone in charge of Maison Giroux.
It is under the direction of Duvinage that Maison Giroux exhibits furniture and art objects strongly inspired by Japonism. These pieces of furniture are decorated with Japanese lacquer panels or treated with Martin varnish in the style of oriental lacquers. At the Universal Exhibition in Vienna in 1873, Duvinage was rewarded by the jury which awarded him two “Medals of Merit”. From 1867, this new partnership allowed Duvinage to sign its furniture under the label “formerly Maison Giroux Paris”, like our furniture.
Following his death, his widow succeeded him from 1874 to 1882, then A. Philippe and E. Arnut from 1883 to 1885.
 
The old Maison Giroux disappeared in 1885.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
– D. Kisluk-Grosheid, 'Maison Giroux and its 'Oriental' Marquetry Technique'
– Furniture History: The Journal of The Furniture History Society, 1998, Vol. 34
– Ledoux-Lebard Denise, Les Ebénistes du XIXth century, Les Editions de L’Amateur, Paris 1986
– Exhibition, Le Japonisme, March 27-April 15, 2003, Galerie Roxane Rodriguez, Paris