Died 1809, Paris, France | ||
Martin-Eloy Lignereux (1751-1809) is one of the most prestigious French marchands-merciers or art object creators. Active in Paris from 1781, he founded "la Maison Lignereux". A demanding and refined clientele sought after Martin-Eloy Lignereux in his lifetime. He was called upon to adorn some of the most splendid residences of his time with his creations throughout Europe.
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Early life
Martin-Eloy Lignereux was born in November 1751 in Cuvilly (60). From the age of 29, Lignereux owns his own Parisian boutique as a marchand-mercier, located rue Saint-Honoré, among the most influential luxury shops at this time.
La Maison Daguerre & Lignereux
On 1 April 1787, Martin-Eloy Lignereux partners with Dominique Daguerre. Renowned "jewellery dealer " Daguerre is looked upon as a trend-setter by Queen Marie-Antoinette. Lignereux’s solid experience of the luxury market matches Daguerre’s prestigious clientele. Their partnership allows maison Daguerre & Lignereux to flourish in spite of the accidents of history.
Paris and London
Following Lignereux’s arrival soon after the Eden Agreement in 1786, maison Daguerre & Lignereux establishes in London and builds a strong relationship between France and England:
During their partnership, Lignereux and Daguerre organise several auctions of their stock of art objects and furniture. This common practice for art dealers in the 18th century helped renew the commodity. At least two auction sales are set up by maison Lignereux, one at Christie’s London in 1791 and the other in Paris in 1793.
Caretaker of Marie-Antoinette’s private collection
On August 10, 1789, Queen Marie-Antoinette entrusts "Daguerre et Lignereux, marchands bijoutiers", with her personal collection of art objects, precious vases and lacquer boxes. After the Queen’s execution, Lignereux hands this priceless ensemble over the French state.
La Maison Lignereux
When Dominique Daguerre passes away in 1796, Lignereux is at the head of a robust and internationally reputed business.
However the luxury market in Paris suffers heavily from the French Revolution; exchanges with England are prohibited (except during the Treaty of Amiens in 1802-1803). Despite all these challenges, Lignereux never ceases creating art objects.
He moves the Parisian boutique to newly trendy areas: 2 rue Christine in 1795, then 44 rue Vivienne in 1800, finally 44 rue Taitbout in 1804.
Martin-Eloy Lignereux calls upon the best Parisian artists and craftsmen to conceive under his supervision furniture and objects "of a new taste ". Under the French Consulate and the First Empire, the reputation of maison Lignereux builds up. In 1802 and in 1803, Lignereux is awarded the gold medal at the Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie Française. His shop is a go-to destination for art connoisseurs and becomes a touristic attraction for wealthy foreigners passing through Paris.
Posterity
Lignereux has one daughter, Adélaïde-Anne, born in 1782. In 1798, she marries cabinetmaker François-Honoré-Georges Jacob, heir to the Jacob dynasty of carpenters and cabinetmakers. Bronze-maker Pierre-Philippe Thomire and architect-decorators Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine witness the wedding.
In 1804, an ill Martin-Eloy Lignereux cedes his stock of art objects and furniture to bronze-maker Pierre-Philippe Thomire. Lignereux dies in 1809.
In 2015, maison Lignereux is resurrected to offer new creations of art objects, elaborated with contemporary artists and craftspeople and destined for international art collectors.
Trend-setter
As a marchand mercier, Martin-Eloy Lignereux is constantly seeking for ways of satisfying and surprising an ever-demanding clientele. From 1787 to 1804, the visual universe of the Lignereux creations evolves notably. The early Louis XVI objects, influenced by “anglomanie” and the ‘”gout chinois”, leave way to bolder creations, drawing from Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquity some remarkably accomplished realisations of decorative arts under the French Directory, the Consulate and the First Empire.
Collaborations
Martin-Eloy Lignereux is at the heart of a network of talented artists and artisans.
He calls upon the greatest craftsmen to design and make, under his supervision, collections of objects and furniture. He collaborates with cabinetmaker Adam Weisweiler and bronze makers François Rémond and Pierre-Philippe Thomire.
Lignereux builds a strong relationship with Manufacture de Sèvres. In addition to the agreement in London in the 1790s, maison Lignereux acts as a retailer of Sèvres porcelain in Paris in 1800-1801 and from 1802 to 1804.
Clientele
Martin-Eloy Lignereux initially benefits from the customer base of Daguerre and, following his partner’s death, renews and increases this prestigious clientele.
From 1787 to 1804, the most influent connoisseurs acquired objects or furniture from Lignereux. An incomplete list of Daguerre and Lignereux’s clients during the French Revolution is taken from the "Etats des débiteurs, émigrés, non émigrés ou condamnés, de la Société Daguerre et Lignereux". It comprises "M. Perregaux, M. Tolozan, M. d'Aumont Valentinois, les comtes d'Artois, d'Angivillers, de Dillon, de Villequier, le baron de Breteuil, les marquis de Balleroy, de Lusignan, de Polignac, les princes et princesses de Condé, de Lamballe, de Montmorency".
Other luminaries can be added to this list: Madame du Barry, the Prince of Wales (soon King George IV), Emperor Napoleon, Impress Joséphine de Beauharnais, "la Reine Hortense", Thomas 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th of Kincardine, Quentin Craufurd, Talleyrand, William Beckford, the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Hamilton, George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, Czar Paul I of Russia, Louis Ier de Bourbon, Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy, General Charles Moreau, Lady Elizabeth Foster, Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth, Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh.
Tributes
In 1802 and in 1803, Martin-Eloy Lignereux is awarded the gold medals at the Exposition des Produits de l'Industrie Française. The Gazette Nationale ou le Moniteur Universel newspaper describes the award in 1802 in the following way: "The furniture of 'Citoyen Lignereux' seem remarkable in elegance and richness, through the match of all parties, the choice of appropriate shapes for each piece's destination and finally, through the preciseness and finish of inside and outside work" ; and in 1803 : "Lignereux, rue Vivienne, who earned a gold medal in Year IX [i.e. 1802]. Awarded subject: furniture. Motive: richness and elegance".
Besides, several visitors have admired the splendour of the art objects and furniture offered at Lignereux’s: