Simon Oeben

Simon Oeben (* around 1722 in Heinberg ; † April 3, 1786 ) was like his somewhat older, more important and more productive brother Jean-François, a cabinet maker and cabinet maker who worked in Paris .

He was born as the son of the postmaster Franz Oeben around 1722 in Heinsberg not far from Aachen. In the 1740s he followed his brother to Paris, took over his workshop and shop in 1756, which, however, continued to operate under the name of Jean-François until Simon took over the business after his death in 1763 and was also given the title “Ebeniste du Roi”. Through his marriage in 1756 to Marguerite Vandercruse, he was related to other well-known cabinet makers of his time. The heyday of the workshop was between 1765 and 1780. He died on April 3, 1786, his widow only continued the business for a year.

Madame de Pompadour was one of his clients . He made chests of drawers, desks and cupboards, as well as small pieces of furniture such as tables and bidets . 30 pieces , mostly signed S. Oeben and thus secured for the artist, are known today.

The style of his work is to be assigned to pre-revolutionary classicism ( Louis-seize ), so he uses more resolutely than his brother, who did not spare with lush floral motifs, more geometric patterns, which are often surrounded by framing bands.

literature

• Rosemarie Stratmann: The cabinet maker Simon Oeben , in: Aachener Kunstblätter Volume 43, 1972, pp. 262–279.

Web links

Commons : Simon Oeben  - collection of images, videos and audio files