Important suite of four armchairs to the queen

Dimensions : H. 87 x W. 118 x D. 65 cm

These four chairs were made in Paris around 1735/1740, at the beginning of the Louis XV period. It should be remembered that the guilds of cabinetmaker-markers were distinct from those of joiners, who were taught sculpture: the latter worked on solid wood and created mainly carved seats and consoles. The wood used for chairs in Paris was walnut until the Regency, gradually replaced by beech from 1720 onwards. The best chair carpenters made no other furniture, and their sculpting skills were their main asset.

These chairs were carved from the finest beech wood, with no defects whatsoever. The carving was clearly done by a great master carver, even if the chairs are not signed. The decorative repertoire and virtuosity point the expert's eye towards an attribution to Louis Cresson, Master in 1738. This type of attribution for unsigned chairs, for which there is no direct provenance, is in truth of little value. What is essential is the perfection of the lines, the opulence and quality of the carving, and the finish of the wood, in which the state of conservation and the level of restoration play a part. These seats are richly carved on the 14 pieces of wood that make up each of them. Beautiful burst pomegranates, leafy garlands, flowers and acanthus leaves are carved with great volume and clarity.  The mortise and tenon joints are of millimetre precision and have enabled these chairs to remain in exceptional condition. The wood is sound and solid. Completely dismantled, these chairs have been perfectly restored, with some of the canework redone. The cuffs have not been covered to allow them to be matched with the galettes, which will be made to measure.