Resumen de Philippe-Claude Maëlrondt, supplier to George IV
The work of marchand-merciers Philippe-Claude Maëlrondt is discussed. Maëlrondt dealt in an extensive range of furniture of the highest quality, and handled finely painted and richly decorated porcelain, lightly decorated wares, and “seconds,” wares that were left in white and were destined for the “redecorator” or faker. His links with England and with the Sèvres manufactory were of particular importance to his career. To the time-honored technique of placing an object on a stand or pedestal to give it greater prominence and presence, he added the refinement of utilizing Sèvres porcelain instead of gilt bronze, marble, or wood. A direct link can be established between his purchase from Sèvres on October 10, 1809, of 12 items from Louis XVI's service and their subsequent sale by Robert Fogg to George IV on April 30, 1810. George IV also bought a varied assortment of pieces from Maëlrondt's sale.
