Lot Essay
THIS IMPRESSIVE SET OF MAHOGANY DINING-CHAIRS DEMONSTRATES THE ARDENT FASHION FOR FRENCH FURNITURE IN HOLLAND IN THE 18TH CENTURY. INDEED, FRENCH FURNITURE WAS IMPORTED IN SUCH LARGE QUANTITIES INTO HOLLAND THAT IN THE EARLY 1770S CABINET-MAKERS IN AMSTERDAM AND THE HAGUE DEMANDED A BAN ON THIS THREAT TO THEIR LIVELIHOOD. AS A RESULT, NUMEROUS DUTCH CABINET-MAKERS ATTEMPTED TO EMULATE THE FASHIONABLE FRENCH STYLE. (R.J. BAARSEN, ''IN DE COMMODE VAN PARIJS TOT DEN HAAG', MATTHIJS HORRIX (1735-1809), EEN MEUBELMAKER IN DEN HAAG IN DE TWEEDE HELFT VAN DE 18DE EEUW',OUD HOLLAND 107 (1993), P. 163)
THE INTEREST IN FRENCH éBéNISTERIE PROBABLY REACHED A CLIMAX AFTER 1750, WHEREAS FRENCH CHAIRS WERE ALREADY IMPORTED IN LARGE NUMBERS IN THE 1730S. THIS IMMEDIATELY ENCOURAGED DUTCH CHAIR-MAKERS TO COPY THE DESIRABLE FRENCH MODELS, IN ORDER TO CATER TO THEIR FASHIONABLE CLIENTèLE. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY ADVERTISED THEIR PRODUCTS AS 'FRENCH' AND EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO CALL THEMSELVES 'FRENCH' CHAIR-MAKERS. THE FIRST TO DO SO MAY HAVE BEEN JAN EMANS (ACTIVE BEFORE 1737-1760), WHO ALREADY PROMOTED HIMSELF AS SUCH IN AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THE AMSTERDAMSE COURANT OF 9 MAY 1737. (R.J. BAARSEN, 'FRENCH FURNITURE IN AMSTERDAM IN 1771', FURNITURE HISTORY 29(1993), P. 168 AND NOTE 24.)
IN CONTEMPORARY INVENTORIES AND INVOICES THIS TYPE OF CHAIR, WITH ITS HOLLOWED BACK, IS OFTEN CALLED CABRIOLETSTOEL, AFTER THE FRENCH CHAISE EN CABRIOLET. THE PRESENT EXAMPLES WOULD HOWEVER NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR GENUINE FRENCH WORK. THE STURDY PROPORTIONS AND SLIGHTLY NAIVE CARVING HAVE A DISTINCTIVE FOREIGN CHARACTER. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE EXCUTED IN MAHOGANY, RATHER THAN IN GILDED OR PAINTED SOFTWOOD WHICH WAS EMPLOYED IN FRANCE, WHICH GIVES AWAY THEIR NATIONALITY. (R.J. BAARSEN, NEDERLANDSE MEUBELEN 1600-1800, RIJKSMUSEUM AMSTERDAM 1993, PP. 122-123)
SEE ILLUSTRATION
THE INTEREST IN FRENCH éBéNISTERIE PROBABLY REACHED A CLIMAX AFTER 1750, WHEREAS FRENCH CHAIRS WERE ALREADY IMPORTED IN LARGE NUMBERS IN THE 1730S. THIS IMMEDIATELY ENCOURAGED DUTCH CHAIR-MAKERS TO COPY THE DESIRABLE FRENCH MODELS, IN ORDER TO CATER TO THEIR FASHIONABLE CLIENTèLE. THEY SUBSEQUENTLY ADVERTISED THEIR PRODUCTS AS 'FRENCH' AND EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO CALL THEMSELVES 'FRENCH' CHAIR-MAKERS. THE FIRST TO DO SO MAY HAVE BEEN JAN EMANS (ACTIVE BEFORE 1737-1760), WHO ALREADY PROMOTED HIMSELF AS SUCH IN AN ADVERTISEMENT IN THE AMSTERDAMSE COURANT OF 9 MAY 1737. (R.J. BAARSEN, 'FRENCH FURNITURE IN AMSTERDAM IN 1771', FURNITURE HISTORY 29(1993), P. 168 AND NOTE 24.)
IN CONTEMPORARY INVENTORIES AND INVOICES THIS TYPE OF CHAIR, WITH ITS HOLLOWED BACK, IS OFTEN CALLED CABRIOLETSTOEL, AFTER THE FRENCH CHAISE EN CABRIOLET. THE PRESENT EXAMPLES WOULD HOWEVER NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR GENUINE FRENCH WORK. THE STURDY PROPORTIONS AND SLIGHTLY NAIVE CARVING HAVE A DISTINCTIVE FOREIGN CHARACTER. IN ADDITION, THEY ARE EXCUTED IN MAHOGANY, RATHER THAN IN GILDED OR PAINTED SOFTWOOD WHICH WAS EMPLOYED IN FRANCE, WHICH GIVES AWAY THEIR NATIONALITY. (R.J. BAARSEN, NEDERLANDSE MEUBELEN 1600-1800, RIJKSMUSEUM AMSTERDAM 1993, PP. 122-123)
SEE ILLUSTRATION