A LOUIS XV GILTWOOD SMALL CANAPE EN CORBEILLE

CIRCA 1755

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A LOUIS XV GILTWOOD SMALL CANAPE EN CORBEILLE
CIRCA 1755
THE SERPENTINE ARCHED CRESTRAIL RICHLY CARVED WTIH FOLIATE SCROLLS AND FLOWERS AND CENTERING A FLORAL BOUQUET ABOVE AN INCURVING PADDED BACK AND BOWED PADDED SEAT COVERED IN PALE CELADON DAMASK SILK FLANKED BY FOLIATE-CARVED DOWNSWEPT ARMSUPPORTS ABOVE A SIMILARLY-CARVED SEATRAIL CENTERING A FOLIATE CLASP, ON FOLIATE AND FLORAL-CARVED SLIGHTLY CABRIOLE LEGS WITH PAW FEET, THE BACK WITH CONFORMING DECORATION, GILDING LARGELY ORIGINAL
53IN. (135CM.) LONG

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PLEASE NOTE THE DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOT SHOULD READ: A LOUIS XV GILTWOOD SMALL CANAPE EN CORBEILLE

Lot Essay

THE EXUBERANCE OF THE DENSE CARVING ON THIS CANAP AND ITS UNUSUAL ROCAILLE FORM POINT TO IT BEING A PART OF A SPECIAL COMMISSION OF FURNITURE FOR A PARTICULAR INTERIOR, POSSIBLY A BEDROOM OR A BOUDOIR. ONE OF ITS MOST UNIQUE ASPECTS IS THE ANIMAL PAW FEET, A FEATURE WHICH IS PARTICULARLY RARE IN FRENCH FURNITURE DURING THE ROCOCO ERA. THE RICH FLORAL CARVING IDENTIFIES A TALENTED MASTER-CARVER AND THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR MAKER OF THIS CANAPE SEVERAL RENOWNED MENUSIERS CAN BE SUGGESTED SUCH AS NICOLAS-QUINIBERT FOLIOT, (MATRE IN 1729), JEAN-BAPTISTE II TILLIARD, (MATRE IN 1751) OR NICOLAS HEURTAUT (MATRE IN 1753). HEURTAUT'S SUMPTUOUS SUITE OFFERED BY THE CHAPTER OF THE CATHEDRAL OF POITIERS TO ITS BISHOP, MONSEIGNEUR DE SAINT-AULAIRE EXHIBITS A SIMILAR SUPERABUNDANT ROCAILLE STYLE AND LUSH FLORAL CARVING WHICH EXTENDS TO INCISED DECORATION OF THE BACK (SEE C. FRGNAC, FRENCH CABINETMAKERS OF THE EIGTEENTH CENTURY, NEW YORK, 1963, PP. 124-25).