Vernis Martin

[1] It imitated Chinese lacquer and European subjects, and was applied to a wide variety of items, from furniture to coaches.

Chinese lacquer was, however, imported in large quantities, and sometimes panels were made in China from designs prepared in Paris.

Their method and work must have come rapidly into vogue, for in 1730 Guillaume and Simon Martin were granted by letters patent a twenty years' monopoly, subsequently renewed, of making "toutes sortes d'ouvrages en relief de la Chine et du Japon" ("all kinds of relief works from China and Japan").

The marquis de Mirabeau in L'Ami des hommes refers to the enamelled snuff-boxes and varnished carriages which came from the Martins' factory.

This delicate work, poudré and wavy-lined with gold or semi with flowers overlaid with transparent enamel, is seen at its best on small boxes, fans, needle-cases and such-like.

He left a son, Jean Alexandre, who described himself in 1767 as Vernisseur du Roi de Prusse ("varnisher to the king of Prussia").