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Lot Essay
Jean-Baptiste Gourdin (1723-1781), maître in 1748.
These particularly richly carved fauteuils were executed by Jean-Baptiste Gourdin, son of the celebrated menuisier Jean Gourdin. The Gourdin dynasty is known for the high quality of their output, and these armchairs exhibits the best features of their collective oeuvre. The generous proportions, the wonderfully sculptural quality of the carving and the naturalistic rendering of each motif make this lot an outstanding example of Jean-Baptiste Gourdin’s work. Comparable seat furniture featuring the same coquille carving to the seat rail by Gourdin include a pair sold Christie’s, London, 16 July 2010, lot 4 and a set of four fauteuils sold Sotheby’s, Paris, 19 April 2016, lot 63. The Aitken fauteuils are distinguished from the above chairs by the inventive sunflower carving to the knees, a detail adding to their sculptural impact, and embodying the creative flair of the Gourdins.
Jean Gourdin was appointed maître-menuisier in 1714 and established in the rue de Cléry by the sign of 'Saint Jacques'. Gourdin was patronized by the marquis de Bercy and the duchesse de Mazarin, whose residence on the rue de Varenne was redesigned by Nicolas Pineau circa 1737. Flourishing until 1764, Jean Gourdin employed two stamps during his long career. The first, I.G., served until circa 1748, when his son Jean-Baptiste joined his atelier at the sign of the 'Nom de Jesus', rue de Cléry. Thereafter he used the stamp PERE GOURDIN; his son using the stamp I. GOURDIN. A younger son, Michel Gourdin, maître in 1752, used the stamp M. GOURDIN.
These particularly richly carved fauteuils were executed by Jean-Baptiste Gourdin, son of the celebrated menuisier Jean Gourdin. The Gourdin dynasty is known for the high quality of their output, and these armchairs exhibits the best features of their collective oeuvre. The generous proportions, the wonderfully sculptural quality of the carving and the naturalistic rendering of each motif make this lot an outstanding example of Jean-Baptiste Gourdin’s work. Comparable seat furniture featuring the same coquille carving to the seat rail by Gourdin include a pair sold Christie’s, London, 16 July 2010, lot 4 and a set of four fauteuils sold Sotheby’s, Paris, 19 April 2016, lot 63. The Aitken fauteuils are distinguished from the above chairs by the inventive sunflower carving to the knees, a detail adding to their sculptural impact, and embodying the creative flair of the Gourdins.
Jean Gourdin was appointed maître-menuisier in 1714 and established in the rue de Cléry by the sign of 'Saint Jacques'. Gourdin was patronized by the marquis de Bercy and the duchesse de Mazarin, whose residence on the rue de Varenne was redesigned by Nicolas Pineau circa 1737. Flourishing until 1764, Jean Gourdin employed two stamps during his long career. The first, I.G., served until circa 1748, when his son Jean-Baptiste joined his atelier at the sign of the 'Nom de Jesus', rue de Cléry. Thereafter he used the stamp PERE GOURDIN; his son using the stamp I. GOURDIN. A younger son, Michel Gourdin, maître in 1752, used the stamp M. GOURDIN.