Series of twelve Paul and Virginie chairs, Provence 19th century

Extremely rare series of twelve straw seats including ten chairs and a pair of walnut armchairs.
Baluster feet at the front and saber at the back, the front crosspiece in a wide curved band.
The "Hémicycle" backrests are decorated with enamelled sheets telling the story of "Paul and Virginie"*

Very good state of conservation, small usual restorations.

Provençal work from the beginning of the 19th century.

Our opinion :

With their Hemicycle headbands, inspired by the newly constituted National Assembly and their saber legs referring to the Napoleonic campaigns, the series of seats that we present is characteristic of the beginning of the 19th century.
In accordance with the fashion that appeared under the old regime, varnished and enamelled sheets, which were until then reserved for utilitarian objects (quinquet lamp, canopies, coolers, etc.) made their appearance on furniture.
Industrial development will allow manufacturers to apply the technique of engraving to varnished sheets.
The most fashionable subjects are inspired by Greek and Roman antiquity but also by literature.
Imbued with exoticism and romanticism, the success of Bernardin de Saint-Pierre's novel "Paul and Virginia" will go beyond borders.
All the ingredients of the success of the work are illustrated on our sheets, (Paradise nature, drama, tearing, accident, love, childhood …)
Our scenes come from engravings made to illustrate the famous novel, in particular the Didot edition of 1806 which includes paintings by the greatest French neoclassical painters.
Jean Frédéric Schall, for the adolescence of Paul and Virginie, Prud'hon for the shipwreck, Girodet for the passage of the torrent, Lafitte for childhood, Desenne for humanity but also Baron Gérard, Moreau the young...
Often separated during the various successions, it is extremely rare these days to find an important series like the one we are presenting.