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Beautiful pair of Armchairs « a chassis »

France
Circa 1880

Height : 99 cm (38,9 in.) ; Width : 64 cm (25,2 in.) ; Depth : 56 cm (22 in.)

Beautiful pair of Transition style armchairs « à la Reine » and « à châssis », in carved and gilded wood and decorated with a flowery lampas by the Maison Tassinari & Chatel, Lyon silk manufacturer. The rounded back and the curved belt are adorned with interlacing friezes. The whole rests on four console legs ending with a winding.

Related work

These armchairs are inspired by 6 armchairs stamped M. Gourdin, circa 1768. This set bear the crowned mark EU and the inventory numbers 8950 to 8954, for the Eu castle under Louis-Philippe. A bergère armchair bearing the same stamp is in the museum Sandelin in Saint-Omer.

Wallace Collection, Londres (Inv F 179)

Biography

Michel Gourdin (1724-1797), who was made maître menuisier in 1752, comes from a prestigious dynasty of menuisiers under the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI : his father, Jean (1690-1764), his brother Jean-Baptiste (1723-1781) and himself. The two brothers decided not to continue their father’s workshop but each one founded his own workshop, depeening their skills and specialities.

Among his famous customers, Marie-Josèphe of Saxe, the Marshal of Contades, the duchess of Charost and the marquis of Poyanne bought furniture from him.