A piece of furniture signed by Rodin preempted by Roubaix

28/1/24 - Acquisition - Roubaix, Musée d’art et d’industrie André Diligent, La Piscine - Its reappearance on the Paris art market last autumn caused quite a stir. Although known and documented, the large neo-Renaissance piece of furniture by Mathias Ginsbach and Auguste Rodin (ill. 1 to 3) remained unlocated until its recent rediscovery by the Osenat auction house during an inventory in the Vallée de Chevreuse. The owners had inherited it from a family member who had probably acquired it in the 1920s or 1930s. Offered for sale on October 29, 2023, it fetched 45,990 euros (including fees) before being preempted by the City of Roubaix, supported by the Cercle des Entreprises Mécènes du Musée d’art et d’industrie André Diligent, the Fonds du Patrimoine and FRAM. Starting next summer, the piece of furniture will join the permanent exhibition at La Piscine, where it will be displayed in a specially refurbished room dedicated to "art in all its forms [1]".

1. Mathias Ginsbach, in collaboration with
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) for the design of the sculptures
Neo-Renaissance piece of furniture, c. 1878
Molded walnut, carved and inlaid with marble - 288 x 232 x 58 cm
Roubaix, La Piscine
Photo: Osenat

See the image in its page

Bearing the names of M. Ginsbach, A. Rodin, M. Hiolle and C. Olinger, the piece of furniture is the result of the collaboration of four artists, which a fortunately preserved certificate of authenticity makes explicit. Written by Mathias Ginsbach - a largely unknown cabinetmaker, perhaps from Nancy - and dated May 21, 1913, it is transcribed in the auction house’s notice: "I, the undersigned, certify that this piece of furniture in Renaissance style, in solid walnut, was drawn by a master named C. Olinger. The sculpture models were created by the great master A. Rodin. The execution of the carving was entrusted to the artist M. Hiolle. The cabinetwork was executed in my workshop, 5 rue de Charonne, in 1878. Plans and models have…