[1][2] In 1789, Daguerre opened a shop in London, while Lignereux took direction of the Parisian boutique located at 85, rue St-Honoré.
The London store played a key role in the furnishing and decoration of Carlton House and the Royal Pavilion of the Prince of Wales.
On 10 August 1789, Marie-Antoinette entrusted "Daguerre et Lignereux, marchands bijoutiers", with her personal collection of art, vases, and lacquer boxes.
[5] The luxury market in Paris suffered heavily following the French Revolution; commerce with Britain was prohibited (except during the Treaty of Amiens in 1802-1803), but the Maison Lignereux continued production.
His early Louis XVI objects, influenced by "Anglomania" and the "Chinoiserie", gave way to creations inspired by Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquity popular throughout the Directory, Consulate and First Empire.
[1] Lignereux was at the heart of a network of artists and artisans,[1] calling upon them to design and make, under his supervision, collections of decorative art and furniture.
[9] Martin-Eloy Lignereux initially benefited from the customer base of Daguerre and, following his partner’s death, increased this prestigious clientele.
[10] Other notable clients were Madame du Barry, the Prince of Wales (soon King George IV),[1] Emperor Napoleon, Impress Joséphine de Beauharnais, "la Reine Hortense", Thomas 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th of Kincardine, Quentin Craufurd, Talleyrand, William Beckford,[11] the Duke of Wellington, the Duke of Hamilton,[12] George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford,[13] Czar Paul I of Russia, Louis Ier de Bourbon, Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy, General Charles Moreau, Lady Elizabeth Foster, Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth, Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh.
The Gazette Nationale ou le Moniteur Universel newspaper described the award in 1802 as follows : "The furniture of 'Citoyen Lignereux' seem remarkable in elegance and richness, through the match of all parties, the choice of appropriate shapes for each piece's destination and finally, through the preciseness and finish of inside and outside work" ; and in 1803 : "Lignereux, rue Vivienne, who earned a gold medal in Year IX [i.e. 1802].