tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517604320453054140.post7139411764027336091..comments2024-03-28T09:09:09.542-07:00Comments on Southern Folk Artist & Antiques Dealer/Collector: Parisian Marchands-Merciers; 18th century one stop shoppingandrew1860http://www.blogger.com/profile/09302166776668727094noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517604320453054140.post-18642498319432878732010-12-18T21:09:26.454-08:002010-12-18T21:09:26.454-08:00You are right no furniture could be made in Paris ...You are right no furniture could be made in Paris outside of the guild. Outside of Paris it was a little bit loser. Plus head member of the guild could drop in on your business to check on your wares. If they were not up to top quality standards they would destroy your piece. Marchand-mercier worked outside of the guild system as far as selling items, they could not make anything but worked with the Guild system when ordering & commissioning a high end piece that they would sale.<br /><br /> Furniture and art commissioned by them are top of the line quality so fine that Royalty patronized marchand-mercier's taste and items instead of going to the craftsmen to order . Furniture makers in the guild might not go to the best gilt bronzer to put mounts on there furniture, They might use a friend or family member that they worked with in the past who might be a good bronzer but not the best. A marchand-mercier would only use the best and knew the best people in there fields. The two pieces you inquire about were sold at Christie's New York for over a million. I wish I could find something like this at a garage sale!!andrew1860https://www.blogger.com/profile/09302166776668727094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517604320453054140.post-77138213264734546392010-12-18T08:23:24.729-08:002010-12-18T08:23:24.729-08:00I would normally expect buyers to support the guil...I would normally expect buyers to support the guild system since the guild system was responsible for maintaining high standards (by prohibiting craftsmen from working with any material with which they had not undergone a formal apprenticeship). <br /><br />If a marchand-mercier worked outside of the guild system, there could be no guarantee of top quality standards. However the Japanese lacquer or Sèvres porcelain plaques could certainly be beautiful. <br /><br />Is there any way of knowing who sold the pair of Royal Louis XVI ormolu-mounted Egyptian alabster vases? Ditto the late Louis XVI ormolu-mounted jaspter bowl. Both are to die for.Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.com