FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY, POSSIBLY RUSSIAN OR FOR THE RUSSIAN MARKET

Details

A SUITE OF LOUIS-PHILIPPE ORMOLU-MOUNTED MAHOGANY SEAT-FURNITURE
First half 19th Century, possibly Russian or for the Russian market
Comprising a settee and four open armchairs, each with slightly curved rectangular padded back, the drop-in seat and the settee's squab cushion covered with associated 18th Century Beauvais tapestry depicting children and animals within floral borders, the top-rail with acanthus clasps, above S-scroll arms decorated with stiff-leaves and honeysuckle, on sabre legs headed by scrolling acanthus and terminating in honeysuckle sabots, with original webbing, formerly with additional mounts to the top-rails and friezes
The settee 78 in. (198 cm.) wide

Provenance

Anonymous sale, Christie's New York, 14 November 1985, lot 199 ($49,500).

Lot Essay

The design for present lot was especially popular in Russia in the 1820's and 1830's, and there are many related examples (see A. Kuchumov, 'Household Interior Decoration in 19th Century Russia', Exhibition Catalogue, Pavlovsk Palace Museum, 1977, nos.47, 55). Many of these pieces, however, have carved and gilded decoration and are sometimes made in lighter woods, native to Russia. The present lot, with its Beauvais tapestry upholstery and ormolu mounts, is an especially refined example. Therefore this suite was probably made either in France or, more likely, by one of the more sophisticated Russian, or foreign cabinetmakers working in Russia.

A very similar chair, although white-painted and parcel-gilt, is in the Hall of Peace at Pavlovsk Palace (see 'Russian Furniture and Decorations: 1775-1825', & Exhibition Catalogue, Therien and Co., San Francisco, 1986).

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