Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
Extremely rare pair of flat-backed armchairs, called "à la reine", in Trianon grey lacquered beechwood.
Model with large square back, armrests and molded crosspieces connected by flowered dice, seats resting on small spindle feet with wide flutes.
Perfect condition, original Trianon grey lacquer.
One of the two stamped I.B SENE for Jean Baptiste Claude Sené*, received master in Paris on May 10th of 1769.
Upholstery redone by our upholsterer (natural horsehair) and covered with silk from Tassinari and Chatel.
Parisian work of the Louis XVI period around 1780-1785.
Dimensions :
Width : 58cm ; height : 88 cm ; depth : 60 cm.
Our opinion :
The pair of seats we present is in a perfect state of conservation without any restoration and with its original lacquer.
It bears the stamp of one of the greatest master carpenters of the 18th century, the official supplier of Queen Marie Antoinette and corresponds to her royal production period (1785-1791).
*Jean Baptiste Claude Sené (1747-1803) comes from a great dynasty of Parisian carpenters of the 18th century.
Established in the rue de Cléry, he is the most famous of the lineage, even the greatest master in seat of the reign of Louis XVI, as explained by Pierre Kjellberg in his book "The French furniture of the 18th century" page 848 :
"The originality and exceptional quality of his work make this carpenter the great French seat master of the reign of Louis XVI in the same way as Georges Jacob whom he equals and sometimes surpasses".
From 1785 he gradually replaced Jean Baptiste Boulard as supplier to the crown.
Sené worked for Madame Elisabeth in Montreuil, Madame Louise in St Denis, the Count of Provence, the Duke of Penthièvre and the Prince of Condé, but it was his production for Marie Antoinette and Louis the XVIth in their chateaux of Versailles, St Cloud, Fontainebleau and Compiègne that made him a legend among the greatest Parisian carpenters.
The revolution did not put an end to his production but the Directory considerably modified the quality and exuberance of official orders.
Jean Baptiste Claude Sené died in 1803.
