BY ROGER VANDERCRUSE, KNOWN AS LACROIX, LATE 18TH CENTURY

In addition to Pierre Garnier, Roger Vandercruse, known as Lacroix, was among the first cabinet-makers who embraced Neoclassicism and created the highest quality furnishings in the new taste. He often achieved Neoclassical symmetry and balance by the use of uniform parquetry inlay as visible in this secrétaire. The overall trellis motif punctuated with quatrefoil rosettes here is one of the many variations of such parquetry decoration that was used on a number of pieces by RVLC, including a secrétaire en cabinet in the Collection of Barons Nathaniel and Albert von Rothschild, sold Christie’s, London, 8 July 1999, lot 203; a secrétaire á abattant offered Christie’s, London, 5 July 2001, lot 102; and a commode sold Sotheby’s, Paris, 16 April 2013, lot 135.

The 'C' couronné poinçon was a tax mark employed on any alloy containing copper between March 1745 and February 1749.