FRANCE OU ITALIE, MILIEU DU XVIIIe SIÈCLE Lot n° 37

LIVING ROOM FURNITURE Circa 1750 Lacquered and gilded wood Consists of a sofa, two armchairs and four chairs Sofa: H. 107.5 cm, W. 240 cm, D. 80.5 cm Armchairs: H. 90 cm, W. 63 cm, D. 53.5 cm Chairs: H. 93.5 cm, W. 53 cm, D. 51 cm This carved, lacquered and gilded wooden lounge furniture consists of a large basket sofa, two convertible armchairs and a suite of four chairs with ample proportions. In keeping with the rocaille style, our furniture boldly combines shell and foliage motifs with openwork allowing a play of positive and negative spaces with sinuous lines. Numerous details testify to the refinement of its execution, notably the shell motif crowning the sofa, the delicately sculpted feurs covering the feet and the perfect mastery of curved lines. This set of seats features a sky blue lacquer with delicate gold highlights, coupled with ornamentation inspired by nature and characteristic of the rocaille style that dominated the first half of the reign of Louis XV: the harmonious proportions, the refined sculpture and certain motifs make this salon furniture an exceptional testimony to the art of seating in the mid-18th century. This ensemble is an emblematic example of the need of the elite, not only for ceremonial splendour but also for comfort.