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Lot Essay
Louis Charles Carpentier, maire in 1787.
Carpentier is perhaps most celebrated for the famous suite of seat furniture - with Gobelins tapestry covers knowns as the quatre parties du monde - supplied to Marquet de Peyre, probably between 1765 and 1767 as witnessed by un memoire de tapisserie fait à la manufacture des Gobelins pur le sr. de Peyre dans les années 1765, 1766 et 1767. Stylistically very similar to this set, although obviously earlier in date, they are now in the Louvre (B. Pallot, Furniture Collections in the Louvre, vol. 2., Dijon, 1993, pp. 116-121, no. 38). A canapé also in the Louvre (B. Pallot, op. cit., pp. 122-125, no. 39), supplied by Carpentier circa 1775 for the Salon of the Pavillion built at the Palais Bourbon for Mademoiselle de Condé, shows numerous similarities with the suite offered here, although it is stylistically slightly more modern.
During the period 1775-1780, one of Carpentier's principal clients was the duchese de Villeroy, sister of the duc d'Aumont and also a client of the architect Pierre-Adrien Paris (1745-1819), who in 1778 was appointed Dessinateur de la Chambre et du Cabinet du Roi for Louis XVI. In June 1779 Carpentier delivered to the duchesse de Villeroy's residence, a hôtel on the rue de l'Université, two models of armchairs. One set was designed by Paris and the second set by this colleague Ducret. Carpentier executed both sets, which were carved by Gannal.
The whole suite originally comprised 24 pieces: 4 Fauteuils à la reine à chassis richement ornés et sculptés avec le plus grand soin suivant un modèle fourni à 114 piece 576 livres... les chassis 32 livres...deux canapés dans le même genre 480 livres...deux bergéres à chassis,... huit petits fauteuils...huit cabriolets à chassis.
Though it is impossible to be certain about the provenance of the these chairs at present, it is very interesting to note that the date and style of the chairs in Carpentier's oeuvre, as well as the composition of the set, the upholstery à chassis, and the relevant numbers all conceivably point to the Villeroy commission.
Carpentier worked for numerous other illustrious patrons, however, including the prince de Condé, to whom he supplied chairs for the Palais-Bourbon and the château de Chantilly. A menuisier by training, Carpentier was also a cabinet-maker, supplying furniture to for Philippe, duc d'Orléans for his numerous residences, including the châteaux de l'Oise and d'Hénonville. Carpentier's chairs are known for their fine lines and delicate execution of the decoration.
Carpentier is perhaps most celebrated for the famous suite of seat furniture - with Gobelins tapestry covers knowns as the quatre parties du monde - supplied to Marquet de Peyre, probably between 1765 and 1767 as witnessed by un memoire de tapisserie fait à la manufacture des Gobelins pur le sr. de Peyre dans les années 1765, 1766 et 1767. Stylistically very similar to this set, although obviously earlier in date, they are now in the Louvre (B. Pallot, Furniture Collections in the Louvre, vol. 2., Dijon, 1993, pp. 116-121, no. 38). A canapé also in the Louvre (B. Pallot, op. cit., pp. 122-125, no. 39), supplied by Carpentier circa 1775 for the Salon of the Pavillion built at the Palais Bourbon for Mademoiselle de Condé, shows numerous similarities with the suite offered here, although it is stylistically slightly more modern.
During the period 1775-1780, one of Carpentier's principal clients was the duchese de Villeroy, sister of the duc d'Aumont and also a client of the architect Pierre-Adrien Paris (1745-1819), who in 1778 was appointed Dessinateur de la Chambre et du Cabinet du Roi for Louis XVI. In June 1779 Carpentier delivered to the duchesse de Villeroy's residence, a hôtel on the rue de l'Université, two models of armchairs. One set was designed by Paris and the second set by this colleague Ducret. Carpentier executed both sets, which were carved by Gannal.
The whole suite originally comprised 24 pieces: 4 Fauteuils à la reine à chassis richement ornés et sculptés avec le plus grand soin suivant un modèle fourni à 114 piece 576 livres... les chassis 32 livres...deux canapés dans le même genre 480 livres...deux bergéres à chassis,... huit petits fauteuils...huit cabriolets à chassis.
Though it is impossible to be certain about the provenance of the these chairs at present, it is very interesting to note that the date and style of the chairs in Carpentier's oeuvre, as well as the composition of the set, the upholstery à chassis, and the relevant numbers all conceivably point to the Villeroy commission.
Carpentier worked for numerous other illustrious patrons, however, including the prince de Condé, to whom he supplied chairs for the Palais-Bourbon and the château de Chantilly. A menuisier by training, Carpentier was also a cabinet-maker, supplying furniture to for Philippe, duc d'Orléans for his numerous residences, including the châteaux de l'Oise and d'Hénonville. Carpentier's chairs are known for their fine lines and delicate execution of the decoration.