Antoine-Nicolas Lesage

Antoine-Nicolas Lesage (14 November 1784 – 23 May 1841) was a French merchant and dealer in luxury furniture, decorative arts, and interior furnishings, and one of the most prominent Parisian luxury merchants of the early nineteenth century.[1][2] He founded and directed the Union des Arts, an influential establishment specialising in luxury furniture, decorative arts and complete interior ensembles.[3] His business was widely patronised by French and foreign elites and was mentioned in literature of the time, notably by Honoré de Balzac.[4][5]

Life and career

Lesage was born in Paris, the son of Victor-François Lesage, a bourgeois of Paris, and Marie Lambert. He entered the Parisian luxury trade in the early nineteenth century and established his first independent business in 1812 at 2 boulevard des Italiens.[3]

In 1821, Lesage founded the Union des Arts at 2 rue de la Grange-Batelière, offering furniture, bronzes, clocks, porcelain, upholstery, and decorative furnishings from French and foreign makers.[3] The business was designed to supply complete interior schemes and attracted a clientele drawn from Parisian high society as well as foreign visitors. Contemporary guidebooks described the Union des Arts as one of the “must-see” commercial establishments of early nineteenth-century Paris.[4][6]

During the mid-1820s, Lesage organised temporary exhibitions in London, establishing a presence on Regent Street in 1825 and 1826.[7][8][9][10] He is credited with introducing the magazine holder as a furnishing accessory to Parisian society.[11]

In 1837, Lesage transferred the business to 11 rue de la Chaussée-d'Antin, occupying the Hôtel Pernon, former residence of Jean-Toussaint Arrighi de Casanova, Duke of Padova.[3][12] The Hôtel Pernon also housed the concert hall of Niccolò Paganini, who operated his Casino Paganini there during the same period.[13]

In July 1838, Lesage entered into partnership with a long-serving employee, Victor-Hyacinthe Grandvoinnet, forming Lesage et Grandvoinnet, with a starting capital of 200,000 francs.[14][15]

Lesage died in Paris on 23 May 1841. Furniture and decorative objects bearing his stamp continue to appear at auction.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ Parish of Saint-Sauveur, Paris, baptismal register, 15 November 1784.
  2. ^ Extrait de Registre des Actes de deces de l’anneé 1841, 1eme arrondissement de Paris, 23 May 1841.
  3. ^ a b c d Ledoux-Lebard, Denise (1965). Ébénistes Parisiens du XIXe siècle. Paris: F. de Nobele. pp. 355–357.
  4. ^ a b "Le Jour de l'an a Paris". La France littéraire. Paris: Pinard. 1833. pp. 460–461.
  5. ^ de Balzac, Honoré (1845). La Peau de chagrin. Charpentier. p. 204. Le lendemain, j'achetai des meubles chez Lesage
  6. ^ Martin-Fugier, Anne (1993). La vie élégante: ou la formation du Tout-Paris, 1815–1848. Paris: Seuil. p. 326. ISBN 9782020182188.
  7. ^ "Morning Herald". London. 9 May 1825.
  8. ^ "Morning Post". London. 19 May 1825.
  9. ^ "Morning Post". London. 25 May 1826.
  10. ^ "Morning Post". London. 2 June 1826.
  11. ^ Gautier, Henri; Lamber La Messine Adam ("Mme. Edmond Adam"), Juliette; Gheusi, Pierre B., eds. (1883). La Nouvelle Revue. Paris. p. 136.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. ^ Bibliothèque nationale de France. "Plan of the residence of the Duke of Padua, 1816".
  13. ^ "House of cards: Paganini's doomed casino venture". The Strad. 2019.
  14. ^ Archives nationales du monde du travail, Lesage et Grandvoinnet, Fonds: Banque Thuret et Cie, 68 AQ 143, 1838.
  15. ^ Ledoux-Lebard, Denise (1965). Ébénistes Parisiens du XIXe siècle. Paris: Pinard. pp. 213, 355–357.
  16. ^ Christie's. "A gilt-bronze mounted pendule, stamped 'Lesage'." Paris, Mobilier et Objets d'Art, lot 6408090". London.
  17. ^ Drouot. "Pendule en bronze doré, estampillée 'Lesage'". Paris.
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