Four Flatback armchairs, stamped CRESSON

Paris circa 1740, Natural carved walnut
H. 98 cm x W. 71 cm x D. 60 cm
Signed by René Cresson (Born in 1705 and Master in 1738)

The Cresson were one of France's greatest dynasties of seat carpenters in the 18th century. René Cresson, the eldest, was the first to sign his work; he died aged around 40, and is the one whose production is the rarest. His work represents a sort of transition between the Louis XIV and Louis XV eras, and is characterized by noble lines and proportions. His sculpture is deep and richly treated, and his hand is particularly recognizable in the staples and moving projections that adorn belts and backrests, as in this suite.

The exceptional nature of this series is based on a combination of four remarkable features:

- Large series of armchairs, 4 or more, are rare today, having often been disassociated
- This is a model with a wide, flat-backed seat, richly carved.
- The condition of the 4 barrels is particularly good, with no cast-in feet, and no crosspieces changed or resealed.
- The 4 armchairs are signed on their back crosspieces by a master carpenter from the first half of the 18th century.

The lines of these seats are perfectly designed. The backrests are slightly higher than they are wide, and their high crosspieces are well shouldered and richly sculpted. The camber of the legs is vigorous, in keeping with the sober, classical style of the early Louis XV period. Of particular note is the superb treatment of the feet, with a wrap-around hoof sculpture in the shape of a triple-ball acanthus leaf. Nicolas Heurtaut's feet are sometimes decorated in this way. Finally, the crosspieces are particularly well worked, with the rich staples typical of Cresson l'Ainé.

These seats have undergone a complete restoration, in carpentry and upholstery, by the best specialized craftsmen in Paris. The fabric is from Rubelli and the trimmings are custom-made.