1885
The birth of a house
In 1885, Emile Moissonnier founded his workshop in Bourg-en-Bresse at the heart of a forested region offering a rich supply of oak, ash burl and burr elm, as well as fruit woods such as pear, cherry and walnut. A talented sculptor and painter, he is the epitome of the creative craftsman, who conceives each piece of furniture as a one-off. With him came the birth of a line of inventive cabinetmakers, who continue to perpetuate the tradition of fine craftsmanship to this day.
1950
Building a new manufacture
Gabriel and Paul, sons of Emile Moissonnier, succeeded him and gave the workshop a manufacturing dimension. A few machines make their appearance as auxiliaries to the human hand. Moissonnier was now known the world over, featured in such prestigious stores as Bloomingdale’s in New York, where the brand was distributed in the 1960s.
1976
The beginnings of a brand and the invention of a style
In 1976, the third generation, embodied by Jean-Loup Moissonnier, took up the torch. A cabinetmaker by blood, he first made a name for himself in Paris as a fashion photographer and painter. An aesthete and lover of the charm of antique furniture, he steered Moissonnier towards the reproduction of classic pieces. A first step before becoming, with his wife, the inventor of a true style, born of an osmosis between eras and cultures.
1992
The house launches the Louis XV chest of drawers, after B.V.R.B.
Initials by which Bernard II van Riesen Burgh (master in 1735), the greatest Parisian cabinetmaker under Louis XV, signed his creations. His designs personify the rocaille style in its most perfect expression. Emblematic of Moissonnier’s bold creativity, the 573 chest of drawers is an inexhaustible source of experimentation.
2000
First showroom opens in Paris
Moissonnier inaugurates its first showroom in rue de l’Université, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. An ideal location, between the antique shops along the edge of the Seine and the designer names of the Boulevard Saint-Germain, for a brand whose creations result from a catalogue of historic forms, with a touch of contemporary inspiration.
2009
International expansion and the development of bespoke furniture
Moissonnier changes hands when it is taken over by Christine Duval and Jean-François Perche, Annie-Pierre Moissonnier’s brother. The company remains in the family bosom: Anne-Pierre devotes herself to style and creation, while the couple focus on growth.
Christine Duval and Jean-François Perche, while respecting the company’s in-house skills and know-how as well as its high standards, have set Moissonnier on a new course by focusing more on international markets and creating a design desk to support the development of made-to-measure products. This new activity, which adds to the company’s creative strengths, opens the door to the prescription market.
2010
Moissonnier has been awarded Living Heritage Company label
In 2010, Moissonnier was awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) label. This distinction, awarded by the French Ministry of the Economy and Industry, rewards and supports companies with a history and heritage that can be centuries old, as well as their capacity for innovation and rare know-how.
2021
Christophe Martin buys the cabinetmaking
Previously head of an industrial group with several hundred employees, specializing in corporate services, Christophe Martin is taking over Moissonnier and embarking on a new entrepreneurial adventure. His aim is to give new impetus to the art of cabinetmaking and strengthen its international reputation.
2025
Celebrating 140 years of boldness, creativity and color!
In Paris, friends and loyal customers gathered to celebrate the house, its taste for color and a certain excess. A chest of drawers, XXL furniture, hand-painted decor inspired by the Arts Décoratifs, a screen revisited by Jim Kylam, and our iconic Louis XV adorned with porcelain… all punctuated by an Isadora Dartial set with classical accents. Moissonnier surprises again and again.
