PROPERTY FROM THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS, SOLD TO BENEFIT THE ACQUISITIONS FUNDS (LOTS 114-125) THE LUCIEN GUITRY LOUIS XVI ROOM

A LOUIS XVI PALE-GREEN AND PARCEL-GILT PANELED ROOM

CIRCA 1780 AND LATER

Details

A LOUIS XVI PALE-GREEN AND PARCEL-GILT PANELED ROOM
CIRCA 1780 AND LATER
The elements include:
Four pairs of doors of two sizes with carved initials 'C H' and 'F I' and trophies emblematic of Love and War
A demilune-shaped plaster relief above each door; depicting Bacchic music-playing figures around an à l'antique perfume burner (probably reused from another room, two reliefs of a later date)
Two pairs of later glazed doors
A floor-length carved mirror frame surmounted by a floral-carved frame enclosing a late 18th century oval French School still life of flowers (mirror damaged)
A red-veined cream marble fireplace surround below a half-length mirror surmounted by a floral carved frame enclosing a later 18th century oval French School still life of flowers
Multiple molded panels detailed in the condition report
With a paper label printed and inscribed CHENUE/emballeur/(inscribed in ink) and Wildenstein/5, Rue de la Terrasse.PARIS (printed) (59)

Provenance

Lucien Guitry, Paris.
Acquired from Wildenstein and Company, New York, 1927.

Literature

B. Pons, French Period Rooms, Dijon, 1995, p. 115.

Further details

Please note that only a portion of this lot will be available at the Rockefeller Center Galleries for viewing prior to the sale. Please contact the European Furniture Department (212-636-2200) to set up an appointment to inspect the room in full. We strongly recommend that any potential buyers seek specialist advice before buying this room. Christie's bears no responsibility for any inaccuracies in describing the contents or dimensions of this room. THIS LOT IS SOLD NOT SUBJECT TO RETURN.

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Lot Essay

This splendid room, like so many period rooms acquired in the early 20th Century, is somewhat assembled but nevertheless creates a striking, harmonious whole with its elegant à l'antique plaster lunettes of Bacchic festivities and crisply carved details. It had previously belonged to the distinguished French actor Lucien Guitry (1860-1925) who spent much of his career in Russia and was a close friend of the composer Tchaikovsky. His son Sacha was born in Russia and went on to have an equally distinguished career as an actor.

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