Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Claude Sené (Paris,... Lot 32

Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Claude Sené (Paris, 1748-1803) Exceptional beechwood commissioned chair for Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, with a cabriolet back, richly decorated with vegetal friezes and pearls on the jambs. The seat belt is carved with numerous leaf motifs and decorated with piastres in medallions on each side. The armrests are decorated with acanthus leaves. It rests on four fluted feet. Louis XVI period. The back, the seat and the armrests are covered with silk fabrics from the Prelle house, representing on the back two nymphs with a fountain and, on the seat, two small winged tritons and tigers. Height: 95 cm Width: 64 cm (Missing the seat rail, some chips on the back). A spectacular carved beechwood seat ordered by Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, Count of Hannonville. Covered in silk manufactured by Maison Prelle. Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Claude Sené. Louis XVI period. Provenance: - Charles Alexandre de Calonne, general controller of finances of Louis XVI and minister of state. Castle of Hannonville in Lorraine. - then Marie-Madeleine de Calonne, Countess of Valicourt, Mesnil castle in the Somme. - then by descent. Bibliography : Jean-Jacques Gautier, "Meubles et objets d'art des collections du Mobilier national d'origine royale", in Revue de la Société des Amis de Versailles, 2012 pp. 142-143 In 1786, Charles-Alexandre de Calonne, who was then Comptroller General of Finances, had a number of pieces of furniture delivered to Versailles, among which were a dozen chairs signed by Jean-Baptiste Sené (1748-1803), who had been awarded a master's degree in 1769. From 1785 onwards, he supplied the Garde-meuble royal and his works met with great success with the royal family, as attested by the creation of Marie-Antoinette's bed, preserved at the Château de Fontainebleau.