Antoine-Nicolas Martinière

Antoine-Nicolas Martinière was one of the most important Parisian enamellers of the reign of Louis XV. The son of enameller Nicolas Martinière, in September 1736 he married Geneviève Larsé, the daughter of clockmaker François Larsé, and became a master in Paris on July 3, 1720. He was described at the time as being a Marchand verrier-fayancier-émailleur-patenötrier (Merchant glassmaker- faience maker-enameller-maker of rosaries). His workshop was mentioned as being in the rue Neuve Nôtre Dame in 1736, the rue des Ursins in 1738, the rue Dauphine in 1740, and the rue des Cinq Diamants as of 1741. He quickly gained fame and became very successful, receiving the title of Emailleur et Pensionnaire du Roi in 1741 (translates to “Enameller and Resident of the King”). From 1741 to 1742 he made the famous perpetual almanac for Louis XV that is today in the Wallace Collection in London. He worked with many famous artisans, such as the bronze caster Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain and the clockmakers Jean-Baptiste III Albert Baillon, Etienne Le Noir and Jean-Baptiste Gosselin. After several decades of professional activity, he died in Paris on August 27, 1784. At the time he lived in rue Quincampoix, Saint-Merry Parish.