A SUITE OF LOUIS XV FRUITWOOD AND AUBUSSON TAPESTRY SEAT-FURNITURE
A SUITE OF LOUIS XV FRUITWOOD AND AUBUSSON TAPESTRY SEAT-FURNITURE

BY JEAN BAPTISTE I TILLIARD, CIRCA 1750

Details
A SUITE OF LOUIS XV FRUITWOOD AND AUBUSSON TAPESTRY SEAT-FURNITURE
BY JEAN BAPTISTE I TILLIARD, CIRCA 1750
Comprising a canapé and four fauteuils, each with cartouche shaped paddled back, arms and seat covered in Aubusson tapestry woven in wool and silk and decorated with scenes from Fable de la Fontaine, the sinuous frames covered with foliage within scrolls and flanked by heart shaped motifs, on cabriole legs terminating in foliate sabots, restoration to the tapestry, regilt, the canapé with one later cross-strutt
fauteuil 38½ in. (98 cm.) high; canape 42 in. (107 cm.) high; 83 in. (211 cm.) wide (5)
Provenance
Acquired from La Vieille Fontaine, Lausanne, 17 October 1977.

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Lot Essay

Jean-Baptiste I Tilliard, maître in 1752.

Tilliard established his workshop in the Rue du Cléry where he worked until his death in 1766 when he was succeeded by his son Jean-Baptiste II. One of the most talented chair-makers of the period, he supplied the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne from 1730 and between 1737 and 1739 with seat furniture for Versailles. Among his other clients were Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise and the marquise de Pompadour.

The design of these fauteuils owe much to the oeuvre of Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier, one of the pre-eminent designers of the Rococo period. This is particularly apparent in the design for a chair, which was engraved by Huquier and illustrated in D. Nyberg, L'Oeuvre de Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier, New York, 1969, folio 49.

These elegant chairs are typical of Tilliard's oeuvre, the characteristic heart-shaped cabochon which appears on the seat-rails being almost an exclusive signature of his work. A closely related pair of chaises à la reine stamped by Tilliard is illustrated in F.J.B.Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, New York, 1966, vol. I, pl.35, p.48-49, whilst an extremely closely related suite of chaises à la reine was formerly in the collection of Paul Dutasta; a pair of these was sold at Christie's New York, The Alexander Collection, 30 April 1999, lot 88.

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