A pair of Louis XVI giltwood chaises

A pair of Louis XVI giltwood chaises, each with a ribbon tied cresting above a padded back and seat upholstered with associated Aubusson tapestry, the backs worked with ladies, the seats depicting the fables with boar baiting, with interlaced ribbon twist moulded frames to stop fluted tapering front legs and panelled back legs, one stamped 'PLS DES TUILES', the other with 'three fleur de lys below a crown' and 'TH', both with copper inventory labels '1209', originally with caned seats, the tapestry, gilding and some decoration later. (2)

Provenance:

The Palais des Tuileries

The Edward James Collection, West Dean Park, Sussex, sold Christie's House Sale, 2nd, 3rd and 6th June 1986, lot 83.

The Property of a Gentleman, Christie's Important French Furniture and Carpets, 15th June 1995, lot 46.

The Palais des Tuileries was begun in 1564 by Catherine de Medici close to the Louvre. Louis XVI and Marie'Antoinette lived there after their enforced return to Paris from Versailles on 4th October 1789. In the 19th century the Tuileries was used as the main palace of the French rulers and a certain amount of furniture from the Royal chateaux was used to furnish it. In 1871 after the fall of the commune it was burnt and almost completely destroyed.