A SET OF FOUR LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD FAUTEUILS A LA REINE

EACH STAMPED A.GAILLIARD, CIRCA 1785

Details

A SET OF FOUR LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD FAUTEUILS A LA REINE
Each stamped A.GAILLIARD, Circa 1785
Each with ribbon-carved arched crestrail above a padded oval back, armrests and seat covered in cream silk-damask, the rope-twist carved back flanked by free-standing flaring stop-fluted columns, each headed by a block carved with rosettes and surmounted by a flame finial, the beaded down-swept armrest with spirally-fluted acanthus-wrapped and rope-twist carved support headed by a reeded finial, the bowed seat-rail with allover bead and reel decoration, on laurel-carved tapering stop-fluted legs headed by blocks set with rosettes, regilt (4)

Lot Essay

Antoine Gailliard, matre in 1781.

The distinctive spiral-twist downswept profile of the arms relates closely to the celebrated suite of seat-furniture delivered by Nicholas Heurtaut for the chateau de la Roche-Guyon in around 1768 (a fauteuil from the suite is illustrated in B.G.B. Pallot, L'Art du Sige au XVIIIe Sicle en France, Paris, 1987, pp.196-197). It is interesting to note, therefore, that Gailliard also delivered seat-furniture for the Chteau de la Roche-Guyon.

The overall design compares to a drawing executed by Jean-Charles Delafosse of a pattern chair which exhibits a similar oval back with horizontal outer elements, downswept arms and alternatives for various carved elements including the tapering fluted leg and patera medallion (illustrated in B.G.B. Pallot, op.cit, p.37).

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