Offered by Galerie Delvaille
French furniture of the 18th century & French figurative paintings
Armchair dimensions : H. 99 x W. 66 x D. 54 cm
These chairs were made in Paris around 1735/1740, at the beginning of the Louis XV period. It should be remembered that the guilds of cabinet-makers and carvers were distinct from those of joiners, who were taught to carve: the latter worked on solid wood and created mainly carved seats and consoles. The wood used for chairs in Paris was walnut until the Regency period, gradually replaced by beech from 1720 onwards. The best chair carpenters made no other furniture, and their sculpting skills were their main asset.
These chairs have been carved from the finest beech wood, with no blemishes whatsoever. The carving was clearly done by a very great master sculptor, even if the chairs are not signed. The decorative repertoire and virtuosity point to an attribution to Louis Cresson, Master in 1738. This type of attribution for unsigned chairs, for which there is no direct provenance, is in truth of little value. The essential points are the importance of the model, the perfection of the lines, the opulence and quality of the carving, and the state of conservation. These seats are very richly carved on the 14 pieces of wood that make up each of them. Beautiful burst pomegranates, leafy garlands, flowers and acanthus leaves are carved with great volume and clarity. The mortise and tenon joints are of millimetre precision and have enabled these chairs to remain in exceptional condition. The wood is sound and solid.
Completely dismantled, these armchairs have been perfectly restored, with some of the canework redone. The cuffs and covers have just been made to measure using Rubelli fabric.
