Lot Essay
The fashion for luxurious objects and furniture made of polished steel, undoubtedly imitating silver, reached its peak at the end of 18th Century and the Garde-Meuble Royal lists commissions by Courbin, Jubault, Deumier, Tranoi, Perrache, Turquoi and Chaille. Between 1784 and 1787 the Royal locksmith Jacques-Antoine Courbin supplied polished steel beds for the appartments of the Royal princes. The description and dimensions of the present example might refer to that of a bed executed for the Dauphin by Courbin which is mentioned in a 1792 inventory as 'pour les garçons de la chambre... deux lits de fer à quatre colonnes à châssis plats de six pieds de long, 6 pieds 6 po de haut et 3 pieds 8 po de large ... ... preisés a 2 422 livres'.