Lot Essay
Most of the great Bordeaux hôtels were built between 1775 and 1785 by the architects, Etienne Laclotte, François Lhote and Victor Louis. Architect to the King of Poland, Louis designed the hôtels Salge, Fonfrède, La Molère, Nairac, Gobineau and de Rolly which was located in the Place du Théâtre. The Grand Théâtre, opened in 1780, was also the work of Louis and it seems likely that this panelling came from one of the surrounding hôtels (Le port des lumières, Bordeaux, 1989, vol. II, p. 159).
The panelling's 20th century history is equally interesting. Mr and Mrs Herbert Straus purchased a number of sets of boiseries in 1931 from the Parisian dealer J. Sauvage, which were destined for a house they were building at 9 East 71 Street in New York to designs of Horace Trumbauer. They called on Edouard Hitau of Alavoine to alter the panelling for the future rooms. Mr. Straus' sudden death in 1933 brought an end to work on the house and the sets of panelling were given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum kept the famous set from the hôtel de Tessé and dispersed the rest (B. Pons, French Period Rooms 1660-1800, 1995, pp. 289-290).
Please note that only a portion of this lot will be available at the Park Avenue Galleries for viewing prior to the sale. Please contact the European Furniture Department directly to inspect all of the panels. A listing of individual elements and approximate dimensions is available for inspection. THIS LOT IS SOLD NOT SUBJECT TO RETURN
The panelling's 20th century history is equally interesting. Mr and Mrs Herbert Straus purchased a number of sets of boiseries in 1931 from the Parisian dealer J. Sauvage, which were destined for a house they were building at 9 East 71 Street in New York to designs of Horace Trumbauer. They called on Edouard Hitau of Alavoine to alter the panelling for the future rooms. Mr. Straus' sudden death in 1933 brought an end to work on the house and the sets of panelling were given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum kept the famous set from the hôtel de Tessé and dispersed the rest (B. Pons, French Period Rooms 1660-1800, 1995, pp. 289-290).
Please note that only a portion of this lot will be available at the Park Avenue Galleries for viewing prior to the sale. Please contact the European Furniture Department directly to inspect all of the panels. A listing of individual elements and approximate dimensions is available for inspection. THIS LOT IS SOLD NOT SUBJECT TO RETURN