France, circa 1700

A late seventeenth century French seaweed marquetry mirror attributed to Thomas Hache (1664–1747), the walnut frame with a double inverted profile and richly inlaid with floral marquetry typical of Dauphiné production. The composition is structured by wide bands decorated with foliate scrolls and bouquets of flowers, inscribed within centered oval cartouches or polylobed cartouches in the corners.

Height 97.00cm

Width 85.00cm

Depth 11.00cm

Thomas Hache (1664-1747) was a cabinetmaker from Grenoble, famed for his skills in detailed marquetry work. He undertook an apprenticeship with Pierre Gole, cabinetmaker to King Louis XIV and master of floral marquetry, and later in Chambéry, where he discovered Italianate decoration (vegetal scrolls, interlacing patterns, arabesques, acanthus leaves, and a profusion of plant motifs) and the scagliola technique. It was from this technique that he developed his inlaid marquetry, working with the interlocking of shapes and wood species. Hache thus developed a personal style, recognizable by the frequent use of floral marquetry on a dark background, with vases, palmettes, and scrolls, applied to both furniture and mirror frames; "It is in the content of these pre-prepared veneers, where the scrolls, foliage, and flowers are stylized in very elaborate and dense compositions, that belong only to him and that no other cabinetmaker, except Pierre (his son), has used. The plant ornaments they contain are cut from light and shaded wood to give relief." (The Genius of the Axe, by Pierre and François Rouge, p. 65).

Comparable mirrors are now held in major public collections, including the Grenoble Museum, which possesses several mirror frames and pieces of furniture attributed to Thomas Hache or his workshop. The Museum of Decorative Arts in Lyon also houses very similar marquetry works.