Offered by Galerie Delvaille
French furniture of the 18th century & French figurative paintings
Height 103,5 cm / Width 68cm / Seat height 46cm / Seat depth 60cm / Wall depth 76cm
Rare suite of four large French Regency period armchairs in carved and gilded beechwood, with flat backs called "à la Reine". They rest on cambered legs and present a very abundant sculpture. The front crossbar is richly decorated and openwork. The side rails, the rear uprights and the bottom rail of the backrest, which are usually simply molded, are abundantly worked here.
The balance of these seats is perfect. Their large size does not affect the elegance of the model at all, as the proportions are respected in every respect. As is often the case with ceremonial seats, the seat height is slightly higher than usual; this allows a rare comfort for 18th century seats, as at that time the population was significantly smaller.
These armchairs have been restored to a very high standard. Completely disassembled and reassembled by a carpenter, they have been partially re-gilded with gold leaf by a excellent specialized workshop. One of the best upholsterers in Paris has done a remarkable job with a beautiful fabric from Rubelli.
These seats are in a superb condition. The legs and uprights are all original, as well as the crosspieces in the belt and the back. The wood is sound, not wormed and solid. Only the gilding has been redone, which is often the case for 300 years old seats.
