This Louis XVI style piece of furniture, made in 1821 for the baptism of the Duke of Bordeaux, had not been found since the mid-20th century.e century. The State demanded its return to its new owner.
It’s a real deal that Jean-François Marchais, collector and dealer in antiques, carried out during the summer of 2024. While he was in the middle of bargain shopping in the Emmaüs store in Châtellerault, a rather ordinary table hit him. to the eye, reports the local newspaper The New Republic . Drawing on his negotiating skills, the Poitevin man bought this piece of furniture for the modest sum of 30 euros, five less than its initial sale price.
He didn’t suspect anything when he went to the checkout. However, as a connoisseur, Jean-François Marchais could not help but analyze this table « high on foot, Louis XVI style, oval »as he describes it so well. « It was when I got home and turned it over to see how it was built that I saw many inscriptions, with calligraphy that caught my attention »confides the collector.
He thus discovered under the underside of the board multiple acronyms and symbols, sometimes scratched, and more particularly « an ML inscription which corresponds to the administration of the king’s small pleasures, a GM marking which means that it was in the Crown Furniture Guard”, says Jean-François Marchais. Surprising for a table he found at Emmaüs. « I clearly saw that it was a piece of furniture from the Mobilier national »he adds.
Facebook account of Jean-François Marchais
Return to the State
This table was made in 1821 for the baptism of Henri d’Artois, Duke of Bordeaux and Count of Chambord. It was in 1824 that it was included in the inventory of the National Furniture, before being deposited at the National School of Oriental Languages in 1925. From 1950, it became impossible to find. No new inventory makes it possible to identify its new place of conservation.
This is why Jean-François Marchais’ find has its historical importance. The Mobilier national asked him, when the collector from Availles-en-Châtellerault contacted the public establishment to inform them, to return the furniture. “ They explained to me that it is a very beautiful table but that it belongs to them and that it must be returned »he says. And its new buyer intends to stick to it. « It hurts my heart but I’m happy to give back to the State something that was stolen from it »confides Jean-François Marchais.
Facebook account of Jean-François Marchais
Be extra vigilant
At the end of the year, therefore, the long-lost table was left by an individual at the Emmaüs store in Châtellerault. Isabelle Billard, head of the Viennese branch, tells our colleagues to The New Republic not having noticed anything. « The companions remember this table very well and the fact of having sold it for 30 eurosshe adds. They are a little upset at not having realized its value, but at the same time very proud to have had such a beautiful table in their hands. »
“The companions are a little upset at not having realized its value, but at the same time very proud to have had such a beautiful table in their hands. »
Isabelle Billard, manager of the Emmaüs store in Châtellerault
And since then, in order not to repeat the same mistake, the companions of Emmaüs de Châtellerault have examined with much more vigilance the furniture they receive in their back shop. Those which belonged to the former owner of the 19th century tablee century are, at this very moment, being examined under the magnifying glass. Who knows, maybe a new piece of furniture that disappeared from the National Furniture will resurface following these examinations.
Facebook account of Jean-François Marchais