Cabinetmaker

The cabinetmaker manufactures movable and panels, in Bois, composed of a frame in Menuiserie to which are applied sheets of invaluable wood called Placage S or of any other matter which dissimulate entirely or partially the frame.

It can produce with the unit or of small number. The cabinetmaker is before a whole Artisan.

The word cabinet work appears in the dictionary of the Academy in 1732 for the first time; to differentiate it from the joinery term, because the craftsmen cabinetmakers, in addition to the techniques of the Menuiserie call upon the Marqueterie with the Placage and the Tabletterie. It is drawn from the word ebony, root probably Nubian (Egypt) having made it tower of the Mediterranean by Greece then Rome, and indicating the wood of the ebony tree, black color. It is the work of this invaluable gasoline which gave the name to the trade in charge of work " in matter more decorative than utilitaire".

The pieces of furniture of cabinetmakers can be of old style or contemporary creation.

The project superintendent ensures the various stages of manufacture: choice of the model and wood, sawing and welding, realization of the assemblies, the decoration and the assembly.

The convenient S, Corner S, Secretary S, office X and other pieces of furniture covered with scales, of wood of Plating, marquetry, Lacquer, varnished, Porcelaine are pieces of furniture of cabinet work.

The completion of the piece of furniture is sometimes entrusted to a specialized craftsman: Inlayer, Assembler of bronzes, Sculptor on wood, Gilder, Varnisher.

History

  • the oldest techniques concerned with the cabinet work do not go up further that the Middle Ages, even if him this name yet were not given, with the appearance of the Point from Hungary (parquetry in checkerwork applied to large surfaces to certain invaluable pieces of furniture).

  • at the 15th century in Italy appears the Marqueterie. She knows a great fame in all Europe, although she is diffused there only at the 17th century.

  • at the 16th century in Italy appears a new category of craftsmen who work the rare gasolines and in particular the ebony. They create new processes called the intarsio and the impasto. Before that, ebony was used only for small objects (chess-boards, boxes…).

  • in France, it is in the middle of the 17th century that the old woman Corporation of the carpenters accommodates this new category of craftsmen and creates the Jurande of the Masters Cabinetmakers.

  • from now on, and until the removal of the corporations in 1791, a very clear distinction is established between these two trades that one should not confuse.

  • the cabinetmakers are represented with the Contest of the Best Workmen of France (taking place every three years) since the beginning of the XXe century. Among the most famous craftsmen having obtained this official recognition of the State, one counts in particular Quentin Bergot for his multiple domestic achievements.

Difference between joinery and cabinet work

The pieces of furniture which one calls joinery are carried out out of sawn timber, made up of a frame which will remain apparent. Possibly, it can include a carved decoration, although in theory this one must be entrusted to a sculptor. The consoles of bracket, the executives of mirror and all the carved or profiled sawn timber pieces of furniture are pieces of furniture of joinery. On the other hand, the frame of the pieces of furniture of cabinet work is plated.

Nowadays, this difference is less clear and one speaks about carpenter when the production relates to more the building (windows, doors, wall cupboards, parquet floors…) and of cabinetmaker when it relates to furniture, indifferently plated or massive.

Restoration of furniture

It is a particular branch of the cabinet work which consists in restoring old pieces of furniture. It requires at the same time a good control of the manufacture of the pieces of furniture, but also a good knowledge of the styles and the use of techniques suitable for the restoration.

It must be held for cabinetmakers trained with this practice (certain restorations parallel to claim a specific training the traditional training of cabinetmaker) because one saw too often pieces of furniture massacred by ignorance, or worse, the cupidity of certain professionals of the piece of furniture. To avoid that a charter of the restorer was founded, who recommends inter alia the use of techniques and products old (used at the time of the manufacture of the piece of furniture), and to make so that each restoration is reversible.

The restoration should not be confused with the conservation the purpose of which is to maintain the piece of furniture in state, to make so that it functions, without camouflaging the additions and by withdrawing the minimum of matter. It is used in particular by the museums and must allow a historical and archaeological study later piece of furniture. Therefore only the " vital" minimum; must be made on the pieces of furniture preserved not to mask the traces of time.

See too

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