Lot Essay
Augustin Forschmann, called Ferchemenn, mâitre in 1773.
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This superb suite of seat furniture once formed part of the collection of the Rome residence of Comte Henri de Beaumont (1923-2005). Born and raised in France, Beaumont spent many years in the United States as a diplomat, and later divided his time between France and Italy with his Italian wife Graziella Pecci Blunt. He inherited from his family, particularly his uncle Etienne de Beaumont, an exceptional collection of paintings, French furniture and objects. He lived with his uncle during his formative years, in a sophisticated and cultured milieu surrounded by such luminaries of the artistic world as Picasso, Braque, Cocteau and Buñuel.
This suite came from Beaumont's Rome residence, together with a magnificent set of Louis XVI lacquer furniture attributed to Levasseur, which was subsequently sold Christie's, London, 1 December 2005, lots 136-7. The mobilier offered here is remarkable for its naturalistic wheatsheaf crestings and stylish gadrooned seat-frames. Little is known of Augustin Forschmann, who for his guild stamp adopted the more French spelling of Ferchemenn. He was recorded at the passage de la Trinité right up to the Revolution, and his only recorded works are actually of ébénisterie, implying that he might have sub-contracted or retailed this splendid suite.
A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD MARQUISES
BOTH STAMPED 'A. FERCHEMENN ', CIRCA 1780
Details
A PAIR OF LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD MARQUISES
BOTH STAMPED 'A. FERCHEMENN ', CIRCA 1780
Each with a carved crest of a ribbon-tied sheaf of wheat above carved trailing bellflowers and floral-carved down-scrolled arms, on a shaped gadroon and leaf-carved seat rail and leaf-carved tapering fluted legs, covered in floral-patterned light blue silk
37¾ in. (96 cm.) high, 20½ in. (52 cm.) height of seat, 20 in. (51 cm.) depth of seat, 36½ in. (92.5 cm.) wide (2)
BOTH STAMPED 'A. FERCHEMENN ', CIRCA 1780
Each with a carved crest of a ribbon-tied sheaf of wheat above carved trailing bellflowers and floral-carved down-scrolled arms, on a shaped gadroon and leaf-carved seat rail and leaf-carved tapering fluted legs, covered in floral-patterned light blue silk
37¾ in. (96 cm.) high, 20½ in. (52 cm.) height of seat, 20 in. (51 cm.) depth of seat, 36½ in. (92.5 cm.) wide (2)
Provenance
Comte Henri de Beaumont, Rome