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René Dubois was a French cabinetmaker and furniture designer. He followed his father Jacques Dubois, becoming a master ébéniste when he was only eighteen years old. René Dubois continued to work for his father and directed the family workshop with his mother after Jacques's death in 1763. Nine years later Dubois's mother relinquished control of the workshop, selling the existing stock to her son, who agreed to pay her an annuity.
Jacques Dubois was a master cabinetmaker of the 18th century.
He was the king's cabinetmaker and also worked for Princess Louise Elisabeth, the Duchess of Parma, the Duke of Orleans and the nobility of the time.
He was one of the masters of the Louis XV style, a specialist in varnished veneers, reproducing the effects of Far Eastern lacquers, with black or red backgrounds, decorated with Chinese and pagodas, of a very high quality.
He also executed the delicately chiselled bronzes applied to his furniture.
Pierre Platel was a Huguenot silversmith, born c. 1664 in Lille and arriving in England in 1688. He was endowed in 1697, and in 1699 was granted his freedom by ransom, after which he was recorded as a major labourer. Paul de Lamery was taken on as his apprentice in 1703 and remained there until 1713. The paymaster died in 1719. His most significant works belong to the Bentinck or Cavendish families.
