Lot Essay
Jean-Baptiste II Tilliard, maître in 1752
THE 'LIT A LA FRANCAISE'
First introduced in Diderot and D'Alembert's Encyclopédie of 1751-72, with a bed designed by Radel, the lit à la Française enjoyed enduring popularity up until the early 19th Century. The menuisier Jean-Jacques Pothier (maître in 1750) supplied a bed of this form, although in pure Louis XV taste, to M. de Berenger, which is now conserved in the château de Sassenage
Two designs for beds by Salin de Montfort of closely related form and dateable to circa 1783-4, are now in the Historical Museum, Frankfurt-am-Main (N. 242 Salins Collection). Nicolas Alexandre Salins de Montfort was the architect of Cardinal de Rohan in Saverne, and it is of interest to note, therefore, that Tilliard was the menuisier exclusively employed by the Prince de Rohan Soubise, a cousin of Cardinal de Rohan. In 1772 Cardinal de Rohan owed 7513 livres to the painter and varnisher Vincent, an artisan who specialised in painting and varnishing much of the seat furniture for the aristocracy (such as the Prince de Condé and the comte de Montmorency), and it is certainly possible that Vincent may have been responsible for the decorative finish of the Meynell bed
Finally, a bed with both foot and headboard of the same proportion was supplied at the very end of the 18th Century to the chambre de M. Rigault D'Oureille, now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
With its oak and laurel garlands, this lit à Française was certainly supplied for a man's use
A bergère stamped Tilliard with very closely related carving was sold anonymously at Ader-Tajan, Paris, 24 March 1993, lot 136
THE 'LIT A LA FRANCAISE'
First introduced in Diderot and D'Alembert's Encyclopédie of 1751-72, with a bed designed by Radel, the lit à la Française enjoyed enduring popularity up until the early 19th Century. The menuisier Jean-Jacques Pothier (maître in 1750) supplied a bed of this form, although in pure Louis XV taste, to M. de Berenger, which is now conserved in the château de Sassenage
Two designs for beds by Salin de Montfort of closely related form and dateable to circa 1783-4, are now in the Historical Museum, Frankfurt-am-Main (N. 242 Salins Collection). Nicolas Alexandre Salins de Montfort was the architect of Cardinal de Rohan in Saverne, and it is of interest to note, therefore, that Tilliard was the menuisier exclusively employed by the Prince de Rohan Soubise, a cousin of Cardinal de Rohan. In 1772 Cardinal de Rohan owed 7513 livres to the painter and varnisher Vincent, an artisan who specialised in painting and varnishing much of the seat furniture for the aristocracy (such as the Prince de Condé and the comte de Montmorency), and it is certainly possible that Vincent may have been responsible for the decorative finish of the Meynell bed
Finally, a bed with both foot and headboard of the same proportion was supplied at the very end of the 18th Century to the chambre de M. Rigault D'Oureille, now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
With its oak and laurel garlands, this lit à Française was certainly supplied for a man's use
A bergère stamped Tilliard with very closely related carving was sold anonymously at Ader-Tajan, Paris, 24 March 1993, lot 136