Henri-Auguste Fourdinois was the son of Alexandre-Georges Fourdinois (1799-1871) who founded the family’s eponymous firm in 1835. Alexandre-Georges participated in some of the earliest exhibitions in 19th century Paris, and quickly assembled an important group of clients – including King Louis Philippe – as well as commissions to furnish numerous royal residences including the Compiègne, Fontainebleau and the Palais Royal. Fourdinois participated in the London Exhibition of 1855, where his splendid neo-Renaissance cabinet was awarded the Grand Medal of Honour and directly acquired by the South Kensington Museum (today the Victoria & Albert Museum, inv. 2692:1, 2-1856).

Henri-Auguste succeeded is father in 1867 and continued to build on his father’s many successes and preceding reputation, notably creating Renaissance revival in his participation in International Exhibitions. In the 1867 Exposition universelle in Paris, Henri-Auguste exhibited an impressive neo-Renaissance cabinet-on-stand with figural scenes and caryatid supports which was awarded the Grand Prix and acquired for the enormous sum of £2,750 by the South Kensington Museum (inv. 721: 1 to 25-1869). Another cabinet by Fourdinois with elaborate winged sphinx supports was also shown in the exhibition, and is now in the collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (inv. 29921). This jewel-like console, carved with putti rather than female caryatids, is closely related to a pair commissioned for the Comte de Pourtales (d.1855) for his Paris hotel particulier, (see Maison Fourdinois, Mobilier, Dessins originaux]. t. 1. vol. 4, : Commandes 301 à 400 : [croquis et commandes], Bibliotheque Forney).