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Lot Essay
This richly-carved console relates closely to a design by Richard de Lalonde, now in Berlin, reproduced in Die Französichen Zeichnungen der Kunstbibliotek, Berlin 402.HB2 3629. The pierced arabesques on the frieze and triple addorsed stem appear on another drawing by Lalonde also in Berlin, reproduced op.cit HD2 3628. Lalonde, like Delafosse, was one of the most talented ornamental designers of the Louis XVI period and was repeatedly commissioned to execute projects for the royal residences. For instance, Salverte mentions drawings for consoles intended for the King's games room at Saint-Cloud, that are dated 1788 (F.J.B. Watson, Le Meuble Louis XVI, Paris, 1963, pp.80-81).
A closely related pair of consoles with pierced arabesque friezes and floral swags suspended from triple scroll supports was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 12 December 2002, lot 30. These consoles were carved by the sculpteur Joseph-André Privé and supplied under the direction of the architect Claude-Antoine Colombot as part of a paneled salon to François-Gabriel Chappuis de Rosières, Président of the Franche Comté parliament (1763-1814) for his hôtel in Besançon, South-East France. A further larger rectangular console from the same commission sharing similar design elements sold anonymously in these Rooms, 23 October 1998, lot 168.
Robert Goelet, the previous owner of Champ Soleil from whom Russell Aitken purchased the house, was the son of Gilded Age banker and developer Ogden Goelet. He renovated the home in 1947 after donating his father's magnificent McKim Mead and White mansion, Ochre Court, to Salve Regina to use as a university. Goelet assembled a notable collection of eighteenth century French decorative arts which was sold in a hard-bound catalogue at Parke-Bernet Galleries, 13-15 October 1966. A Louis XVI parquetry commode by the eminent cabinet-maker Martin Carlin from the Goelet collection was most recently sold in these Rooms, 26 April 1994, lot 304 ($90,000),
A closely related pair of consoles with pierced arabesque friezes and floral swags suspended from triple scroll supports was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 12 December 2002, lot 30. These consoles were carved by the sculpteur Joseph-André Privé and supplied under the direction of the architect Claude-Antoine Colombot as part of a paneled salon to François-Gabriel Chappuis de Rosières, Président of the Franche Comté parliament (1763-1814) for his hôtel in Besançon, South-East France. A further larger rectangular console from the same commission sharing similar design elements sold anonymously in these Rooms, 23 October 1998, lot 168.
Robert Goelet, the previous owner of Champ Soleil from whom Russell Aitken purchased the house, was the son of Gilded Age banker and developer Ogden Goelet. He renovated the home in 1947 after donating his father's magnificent McKim Mead and White mansion, Ochre Court, to Salve Regina to use as a university. Goelet assembled a notable collection of eighteenth century French decorative arts which was sold in a hard-bound catalogue at Parke-Bernet Galleries, 13-15 October 1966. A Louis XVI parquetry commode by the eminent cabinet-maker Martin Carlin from the Goelet collection was most recently sold in these Rooms, 26 April 1994, lot 304 ($90,000),