In the Manner of L. Marcotte & Co. New York Bedroom Suite 

New York, late 19th century, a three-piece bedroom suite in the manner the firm of L. Marcotte & Co., includes a bedstead in ebonized wood, having ivory inlaid classical scenes and silvered bronze putti finials, a linen press in ebonized rosewood with inlaid ivory rinceau and putti, and doors with classical figures and trophies, the interior doors on top lined in birdseye maple, the lower doors enclosing shaped long drawers for linens, and an armoire in ebonized wood with oak and maple secondary, having three arched and mirrored doors, lined in birdseye maple, with ivory inlaid classical trophies of music and art on either end of the case. ; bed ht. 66, wd. 55, dp. 83 in.; linen press ht. 81, wd. 57, dp. 25 in.; armoire ht. 94, wd. 20, dp. 102 in.

Leon Marcotte, born in France in 1824, studied at L'Ecole des Beaux Arts, and trained as an architect under the leading neoclassical architect, Henri LaBrouste. His sister married Parisian ébéniste Auguste-Emile Ringuet-LePrince, who was well-known in the arena of master cabinetmaking, having descended in a line of French ébénistes dating to the 18th century. Le Prince had a cadre of elite clientele both in Paris and in New York, but became skittish when the 1848 French Revolution affected his Parisian customers. New York was more promising and Ringuet-Leprince and his brother-in-law Leon Marcotte moved to lower Broadway, NY, to establish a shop. Once there, Ringuet-LePrince returned to France, Marcotte attended to New York clientele. Initially, the firm was called Maison Ringuet-Leprince, then, Ringuet-Leprince & L. Marcotte, and finally, L. Marcotte & Co.

The business wore many hats as the 'decoration' of interiors was more involved, the firm handled everything for clients, from fabric to custom furniture. This group of three pieces was probably part of a larger bedroom suite of custom furniture. The firm of Ringuet-Leprince & L. Marcotte was commissioned to build a bedroom suite that consisted of a bedstead, two side tables, a dreser, a linen press, a chaise lounge, two side chairs and two armoires. It could be argued that these pieces are in the Renaissance revival style, one in which L. Marcotte & Co. excelled. The construction and attention to decorative detail demonstrates that the suite is that of a very fine New York firm.

Gray, Nina. "Leon Marcotte: Cabinetmaker and Interior Decorator", American Furniture, 1994, pp. 49 2. ibid. pp. 51 3. ibid. pp. 63