A french Louis XV Lacquered and gilded "Canapé à oreille"

Sofa with ear in beech lacquered and gilded. The sofa is carved with flowers surrounded by foliage, and is molded over its entire eventful structure. It rests on eight curved legs.
Attributed to the carpenter Nogaret (1718-1771) from Lyon.
Louis XV period
Restorations of use, old but posterior lacquer, modern trim
H. 107 x W. 178 x D. 68 cm

The sofa of our study is a very elegant work of carpentry. It is quite likely that it is the work of Pierre Nogaret, despite a stamp not found. The latter is one of the most famous provincial craftsmen in France, it was quite prestigious to have a seat with the mark "Nogaret in Lyon". Already in his time, his fame went beyond his region. However, before settling in this southern city, the carpenter was born in Paris and did his apprenticeship there. He moved to Lyon in 1743 and obtained his master's degree in 1745. He thus possesses an important Parisian influence in his work, but also Italian and more precisely from Northern Italy. He produces many armchairs, chairs, beds, sofas, screens for the majority of Louis XV style. Typical elements of his production can facilitate the recognition of his works and allow an attribution. The "silhouette" is animated, the legs are robust, the curve more accentuated than in other carpenters, it is often floral decoration. The quality of the wood and the movement are also part of the main elements of his work. Moreover, Nogaret never had more complex carvings on the upper crosspiece of the backrest than on the belt, an equal composition was required. Moreover, the shape of the front legs of our sofa is very frequent for the Lyon seats during the reign of Louis XV.
A sofa similar to ours and stamped Nogaret is preserved in the castle of Espeyran.

Sources :
Deloche (Bernard), Mornand (Jean-Yves), Nogaret et le siège lyonnais, Jacques André Editeur
Kjellberg (Pierre), French furniture of the 18th century, Les éditions de l'amateur