On a daily basis I would receive orders for common furniture which I no longer took. Mr Herman referred wealthy clientele and we split the benefits. Mr Mendez Gonzalvez for example, placed an order for furniture, tapestry, curtains and decorations for a value of 35000 pesos with a profit of 17000 pesos which in those days was a true dream.
The National Exposition of 1898
This exposition had been announced in the year 1897 and several clients had advised me to showcase my furniture for the purpose of demonstrating that goods were produced at the highest level in Argentina. Mr Molinari, sculptor and designer offered me his services. I hired him immediately in the position of foreman since Duprez would get drunk three times a week and I was out of patience. I immediately went to work and 14 pieces were built and showcased on a 3x3 metre stand which was visited particularly by the Argentinean high society. What followed were new clients such as Sancinena, the Uriburus, Alvear, Cardenas, and many more. I won first prize; medal of honor and diploma of honor. Descotte showcased a golden bed with night table (10,000 pesos) and won a gold medal. Sansa and their upholsterers received a silver medal for a sofa built by me. The goldplater Lhoux received a silver medal for his work on one of my Luis XV arm chairs, complementing me profusely. A crystal cabinet and a screen upholstered in leather were purchased at the exposition, generously covering all expenses. Clients poured in after that. Following the show, Mr Paz from the newspaper “La Prensa” ordered 12 Luis XIV large armchairs for his reception room, all the furniture for his library (amongst them a 7.50x1.30 metres table with 36 chairs) and a piece of the great entrance door to his residence.
At that time I employed 65 workers, 30 of which were carvers. In the meantime there was talk of a great crisis with Chile on account of a border dispute towards the end of 1899. This problem culminated in the labour force coming to a halt. It was at that time that I decided to work on certain decorations that I was frequently asked for. One day the architect Christophersen asked to talk to me about the decoration of some wall mouldings. I explained I didn’t do that kind of work in wood as it was done in France, as the old walls did not stand the nails and that in fact they were made of clay. Very interested in this matter, he asked me to show him some designs for this technique. The German architect Nordman invited me to see a house he had built to offer me the mouldings job. From that moment on, the era of decoration had started. On account of the deteriorating economical and political situation in Argentina, my wife and I had the idea of taking a trip to France to visit the 1890 international exposition and leave the family for several years for the adequate instruction and teaching of the French language. Up to that time I personally had kept the books of the company and decided to hire an accountant three times a week. Mr Lobenheimer, 60 years of age, was hired for this job. I charged him with writing to me every 2 or 3 weeks to keep me abreast of the company affairs, task which he performed efficiently.
