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Lot Essay
This pair of exquisitely carved pliants, or folding stools, is of a specific model which was almost exclusively supplied to the Royal court. The crowned ‘ML’ brands and various inventories numbers, allow us to trace their provenance back to one of the most iconic patrons during the reign of Louis XV, his daughter Madame Louise-Elizabeth, Madame Infante, Duchess of Parma (1727-1759).
MADAME ELIZABETH AND THE INFLUENCE OF FRANCE
Madame Louise-Elizabeth de France was the eldest daughter of Louis XV, who in 1739 married Infant Don Philippe of Spain. In 1748, as a result of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, she became duchess of Parma and she and her husband established their court in the most fashionable French taste. Madame Infante made three visits to Paris - in 1749, from September 1752 until September 1753 and from September 1757 until her death in December 1759 - each time making extraordinary purchases, both in quailty and quantity of bronzes d’ameublement and mobilier to furnish her palaces in Parma. The best known examples being the two chandeliers by Jacques Caffieri delivered to her favourite residence at Colorno, now in the Wallace collection (Num. F83 and F84). On her return from the first two visits she was followed by thirty-four and fourteen wagons respectively. Menuiserie was shipped from Paris largely disassembled and ungilt and subsequently gilt upon arrival in Parma by Francisco Ramoneda, official gilder to the court at Parma. A few finished examples were sent, however, and these examples were used as models, copied in Parma by local craftsmen.
The present pair are very likely made by such a Parma menuiser en sièges after an imported example. With their superb curved lines they are indeed reminiscent of the production of Nicolas Quinibert Foliot such as the pair stamped by him at Versailles (inv. V4949; V4950) and the pair he probably supplied to the Royal Court of Sweden, subsequently sold Christie's, Paris, 24 June 2002, lot 160. It is also known that numerous French craftsmen were working in Parma for the court. These included Nicolas Yon, who is recorded as having delivered to Madame Louise-Elisabeth three 'foteglie di noce senza telari lustrate a cera' for '60 lire'.
THE ML BRAND
This pair of stools are branded ML, a mark placed on all furniture in the Royal palaces of the Duchy of Parma during the governorship of Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria between 1816 and 1847, who inherited the palaces and their contents previously furnished by Madame Elizabeth.
Another group of pliants of this model, part of a set of six and almost certainly originally from the same suite, is now in the Palazzina di Stupinigi near Turin, and is illustrated in A. González-Palacios, Gli Arredi Francesi, Milan, 1995, p.56. This set also bears the brand of Marie-Louise of Austria as well as the brand CR separated by a crown. This latter brand was applied in 1855 on the orders of the duchesse Louise Marie Thérèse d’Artois, widow of Carlo III, to the furniture in the ducal palaces in the duchy of Parma. When not followed by a further letter, such as a C for Colorno, the pieces in question were probably either located in the Ducal Palace in Parma or in the Garde-Meuble. In all likelihood the present pair of stools was originally part of this suite, remaining in Parma throughout the reign of Marie-Louise but presumably having left before the 1855 inventory was carried out which would explain the presence of the ML brand and the absence of the CR brand.
Another pair of related pliants, of similar shape but carved with entwined floral garlands, probably from the same workshop, also bear the ML brand. This pair is marked ‘C. 1313’ indicating they were originally placed at Colorno and was part in the 20th century of the collection of Arturo López Willshaw, sold at Sotheby’s, Monaco, 23-24 June 1976, lot 107. The ‘C. 110’ mark visible on the present stools, could possibly indicate they were originally placed at the Palace Colorno.
MADAME ELIZABETH AND THE INFLUENCE OF FRANCE
Madame Louise-Elizabeth de France was the eldest daughter of Louis XV, who in 1739 married Infant Don Philippe of Spain. In 1748, as a result of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, she became duchess of Parma and she and her husband established their court in the most fashionable French taste. Madame Infante made three visits to Paris - in 1749, from September 1752 until September 1753 and from September 1757 until her death in December 1759 - each time making extraordinary purchases, both in quailty and quantity of bronzes d’ameublement and mobilier to furnish her palaces in Parma. The best known examples being the two chandeliers by Jacques Caffieri delivered to her favourite residence at Colorno, now in the Wallace collection (Num. F83 and F84). On her return from the first two visits she was followed by thirty-four and fourteen wagons respectively. Menuiserie was shipped from Paris largely disassembled and ungilt and subsequently gilt upon arrival in Parma by Francisco Ramoneda, official gilder to the court at Parma. A few finished examples were sent, however, and these examples were used as models, copied in Parma by local craftsmen.
The present pair are very likely made by such a Parma menuiser en sièges after an imported example. With their superb curved lines they are indeed reminiscent of the production of Nicolas Quinibert Foliot such as the pair stamped by him at Versailles (inv. V4949; V4950) and the pair he probably supplied to the Royal Court of Sweden, subsequently sold Christie's, Paris, 24 June 2002, lot 160. It is also known that numerous French craftsmen were working in Parma for the court. These included Nicolas Yon, who is recorded as having delivered to Madame Louise-Elisabeth three 'foteglie di noce senza telari lustrate a cera' for '60 lire'.
THE ML BRAND
This pair of stools are branded ML, a mark placed on all furniture in the Royal palaces of the Duchy of Parma during the governorship of Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria between 1816 and 1847, who inherited the palaces and their contents previously furnished by Madame Elizabeth.
Another group of pliants of this model, part of a set of six and almost certainly originally from the same suite, is now in the Palazzina di Stupinigi near Turin, and is illustrated in A. González-Palacios, Gli Arredi Francesi, Milan, 1995, p.56. This set also bears the brand of Marie-Louise of Austria as well as the brand CR separated by a crown. This latter brand was applied in 1855 on the orders of the duchesse Louise Marie Thérèse d’Artois, widow of Carlo III, to the furniture in the ducal palaces in the duchy of Parma. When not followed by a further letter, such as a C for Colorno, the pieces in question were probably either located in the Ducal Palace in Parma or in the Garde-Meuble. In all likelihood the present pair of stools was originally part of this suite, remaining in Parma throughout the reign of Marie-Louise but presumably having left before the 1855 inventory was carried out which would explain the presence of the ML brand and the absence of the CR brand.
Another pair of related pliants, of similar shape but carved with entwined floral garlands, probably from the same workshop, also bear the ML brand. This pair is marked ‘C. 1313’ indicating they were originally placed at Colorno and was part in the 20th century of the collection of Arturo López Willshaw, sold at Sotheby’s, Monaco, 23-24 June 1976, lot 107. The ‘C. 110’ mark visible on the present stools, could possibly indicate they were originally placed at the Palace Colorno.