Antique Victorian Furniture - Who Was Alexander Roux?

Alexander Roux (pronounced "Roo") was one of theearned as much as $500,000 in the 1870s, a huge sum
top cabinetmakers of the Victorian era in America, andfor the day.
today his name commands great respect in the worldRoux was married three times and had six children.
of antique Victorian furniture.For one year, in 1847, his brother Frederick joined the
Born in France in 1813, Roux was guild-trained in hisfirm. Roux himself finally retired in 1881 and turned the
native country in the Rococo Revival style. In the 1830sbusiness over to his son Alexander J. Roux, who
he emigrated to the United States. And in 1836carried it on until 1898.
(possibly 1837) he opened a shop in New York City.Roux's shop occupied a number of locations in New
Because French furniture was in vogue in New YorkYork, including five different spots on Broadway and
at the time, Roux labeled himself, both in his ads and onone on Fifth Avenue. Nineteenth century America, with
his furniture, as a "French Cabinet Maker."its new wealth and technology, proved to be the
His business prospered. By the 1850s he had 120perfect place for Roux to develop his unique
craftsmen in his employ. Roux used new technologies,craftsmanship.
such as steam powered saws and routers, whichHis work displays an individuality of thought and a
allowed him to shape his wood quickly. This gave himfreedom of form that make it highly desirable today
more time to work on his fantastically ornate carvings.among collectors of antique Victorian furniture. His
Roux is best known for his Rococo pieces, but heRococo pieces contain an unusual variety of
hardly limited himself to that style. In fact, he brought hisnaturalistic carvings such as pomegranates and
mastery to the changing fashions of the day: Gothicpineapples, the heads of deer, wolves and dogs, crabs,
Revival in the 1840s; Elizabethan and Renaissance, inlobsters and other marine life. Roux preferred fancy
addition to Rococo, in the 1850s; Neo-Grec in thewoods like walnut, even using the same as secondary
1860s.interior woods.
Roux crafted high quality pieces for elite clients likeIn the year 2000, one of Roux's elaborate sideboards
William B. Astor. In 1853 he exhibited his work at thewas displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in
Crystal Palace exhibition in New York City. Roux'sNew York City, at an exhibit called Art and the Empire
business was immensely profitable. He reportedlyCity, 1825-1861.