Bolster Signed Gabriel Viardot

Natural wood bolster signed Gabriel Viardot is a Parisian cabinetmaker 1830/1904 specializing in the production of furniture freely interpreted "Chinese-Japanese style" and adapted to European taste in the last third of the 19th century. Gabriel Viardot began his career as a wood sculptor in 1849, when he sent some furniture with naturalistic decor to the horticultural exhibition. He was then at the head of a small team of sculptors when he was only 19 years old. In 1853, he had a factory and a furniture store located at 36 and 38 rue Rambuteau. At that time, he worked with his brother, Louis Gustave, under the name of "Viardot Frères et Cie". He married in 1854. In 1860, he created his own workshop, "G. Viardot", at 5 rue du Grand-Chantier, and took over the management of the family business, which he kept until 1872. He decided to to devote himself to “Chinese-Japanese style furniture” which he was able to observe in particular at the Universal Exhibition of 1867. At this same exhibition, he was rewarded with four medals. It was with this production that he was rewarded at the Universal Exhibition of 1878 with a silver medal. Thereafter, he worked successively at 15 rue du Chaume, 3 rue des Archives in 1878 and 36 rue Amelot towards the end of the century. His furniture was made using lacquered and embossed panels sent directly from China or Japan and decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays from Tonkin. He enlivened them with ornamental bronzes, the models of which were all by his hand. Over the years, his success only grew, notably at the Nice exhibitions and at the 8th exhibition of the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs in 1884. In 1885, he took part in the Universal Exhibition of 1885 in Antwerp where he obtains a new gold medal. At that time, the house employed 90 to 100 workers, sculptors or cabinetmakers, many of whom had been trained directly by Gabriel Viardot. Following this exhibition, he was promoted to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor (December 29, 1885)2. He was present at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889 and was rewarded with a gold medal. He obtained the same award at the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Gabriel Viardot at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris [archive] Gabriel Viardot at the Musée d'Ennery in Paris [archive] Portrait of Gabriel Viardot by Victor Marec [archive] Gabriel Viardot, leader of Japanese cabinetmakers [archive] on japonisme.marcmaison.com Furniture by Gabriel Viardot [archive] on artnet.fr His stamp [archive]