Curved Secretary With Flap Stamped P. Roussel, Louis XV Period

Louis XV period secretary stamped P.ROUSSEL (1723-1782) received Master on August 21, 1745, in rosewood veneer, and rich floral marquetry. It is curved on the front and on the sides Opens with a flap and two leaves in the lower part Brêche d'Alep marble top Stamped "P.ROUSSEL" and Jurande France hallmark, Louis XV period, 18th century Dimensions: High. total: 139 cm Length. 101.5 cm Depth 41.5 cm Pierre Roussel, born September 28, 1723 in Paris where he died on June 7, 1782, was a master cabinetmaker, renowned marquetry maker and merchant. Pierre Roussel was born in Paris on September 28, 1723. He is the son of Michel Roussel (fellow cabinetmaker) and Barbe Dulin. Coming from a poor family, his three brothers (Jacques, Michel and Louis) became carpenters and one of his sisters, Françoise, married a butcher (Pierre Bérard) in 1743 at around 20 years old. He became a master cabinetmaker on August 21, 1745 and settled in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, rue de Charenton opposite rue Saint-Nicolas under the sign “L'Image de Saint Pierre”. Quickly, his career as a cabinetmaker prospered, but above all as a talented marquetry maker, so much so that he became a juror of his community in 1762, then a juror accountant in 1763-1764. He then drew up a list of poor master cabinetmakers to be assisted by Jurande. (The fact of being a master does not necessarily guarantee a sufficient income to live on!) His notoriety reached heights in 1767, as confirmed by Salverte who mentions that Pierre Roussel, who had been chosen as an expert to arbitrate a dispute between two colleagues, was considered one of the very best cabinetmakers of his period. Statement taken up in the Almanac d'indication général ou du vray merit of 1769 which cites him as one of the very first cabinetmakers in Paris. Recognized and appreciated by his peers, he became a deputy of the corps of cabinetmakers in 1777, then deputy trustee in 1779 and finally trustee the following year.