A rich history

The history of la Maison Moreau takes its origin during the last quarter of the 18th century when Louis Moreau was appointed master craftsman in 1764 and started with the Parisian store in 1882.

Louis Moreau Sr. (1740-1802), esteemed as one of the finest French cabinet makers, began his remarkable journey in 1764. Teaming up with Martin Guillaume Biennais (1764 -1843), they forged a partnership that crafted exceptional cabinets and trunks during the royal, then the revolutionary and finally the imperial eras. Their collaboration garnered recognition from Emperor Napoleon himself, resulting in the creation of some of the era’s most iconic pieces.

Louis Moreau’s early success was marked by his acquisition, in 1764, of the shop of fellow cabinetmaker Denis Genty, on Rue de l’Echelle - Saint- Honoré “à la descente des Tuileries”. His furniture, adorned with mahogany veneer, floral decorations, and meticulously crafted bronze ornaments, quickly earned him a distinguished clientele.

During the revolutionary times he partnered up with Martin Biennais. He was the master of woodwork and Martin Biennais was the master of metalwork. The chest created in 1799, presently part of the collections of Moreau Paris is a fine example of their work.

A link to the past

Louis Moreau Jr. extended this partnership, and this duo was to become iconic when the at the start of imperial times, the emperor Napoleon appointed them for numerous stunning pieces of the time. In 1805 they started producing trunks after the emperor ordered an incredible trunk he offered to the Chancelor Cambaceres. The transfer of the cabinet making and metal welding craftsmanship to trunk making, was an incredible success at a time when people started travelling more and more. Despite his involvement in politics, Louis Moreau’s legacy endured through his craftsmanship and dedication to his art until his passing in 1802.

Following Louis Moreau Sr.’ s passing, his son and wife and later his grand-son, assumed control of the family business, carrying forward its legacy of excellence. Expanding their expertise from cabinetmaking to trunk making, they responded to the growing demand for luxury travel accessories. Settling in Paris’s prestigious locations, such as 24 rue Boissy d’Anglas in 1878 and later 283 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in 1882, they established themselves as leaders in the industry at the time of the development of railway and steamboat travelling. It is during this new retail era, that Moreau Paris created a leather trunk with a now iconic pattern, inspired by basketry and drawings of wicker trunks braids, which remains its signature until today. They established a very unique and recognizable Parisian style.

Moreau Paris remains one of the four historical monogram brands in Paris and offers to its customers the quality of its French handcrafted savoir-faire, the timelessness of traditional and creative aesthetics, the finest materials; establishing itself as a reference in the field of luxury leather goods and accessories.