Nicolas Petit
Biography1732 - 1791
About the artist
Nicolas Petit was a French master woodworker, born in 1732. Literature refers to him as Nicolas Petit I, in order to distinguish him from Nicolas Petit II (1730-1797), who worked during the same period and produced work in the same line, but was no relation of his. The furniture manufactured by Nicolas Petit I is far superior to the production of Petit II. Petit I was born in Chaource, France, and became a Maître Ebéniste and Marchand Ebéniste in Paris in 1761.
His workshop was located in the faubourg Saint-Anthoine, but his business did not prosper until after the death of his first wife in 1765. Numerous pieces are known of his hand today, great in both diversity and quality: large chests, cupboards, commodes, writing furniture, side tables, and a large diversity of occasional furniture. He also made casings for long case clocks.
His preferred styles of decoration were marqueterie and laquer. The diversity in decoration also ranges from lavish flower arrangements to stylized geometrical patterns. He signed his works with the stamp: N·PETIT JME. Petit passed away in 1791.
His workshop was located in the faubourg Saint-Anthoine, but his business did not prosper until after the death of his first wife in 1765. Numerous pieces are known of his hand today, great in both diversity and quality: large chests, cupboards, commodes, writing furniture, side tables, and a large diversity of occasional furniture. He also made casings for long case clocks.
His preferred styles of decoration were marqueterie and laquer. The diversity in decoration also ranges from lavish flower arrangements to stylized geometrical patterns. He signed his works with the stamp: N·PETIT JME. Petit passed away in 1791.
