Cressent, Charles

(born Dec. 16, 1685, Amiens, Fr.—died Jan. 10, 1768, Paris) French cabinetmaker. He also studied sculpture and became an accomplished metalworker. In 1710 he went to Paris, where he worked in the studio of the cabinetmaker Andr. In 1715 Cressent was appointed official cabinetmaker to Philippe II, duke d'Orléans. He was elected to the Academy of St.-Luc in 1719, and he consequently received important commissions from French aristocrats, including Madame de Pompadour. His early works were in the Louis XIV style, but later pieces (c. 1730–50) were lighter and more curvilinear. Cressent was the leading proponent of the R and introduced marquetries of coloured wood and ormolu to case decoration.

Find more information on Cressent, Charles. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Cressent, Charles.