AUCTION FINDS OF THE WEEK- MAY 5TH- I AM IN THE NEED OF A FRENCH 18TH CENTURY MOMENT
by Kelly Keating on 05/09/13
I have always adored the style and sumptuousness of the French 18th century from the Rococo to the later Neoclassical period. The art, furniture, fashion and design of this century has always held my attention. In my fantasy house there would be at least one room devoted to this chic century- a well-turned out salon- comfortable, extravagant and richly appointed. Here are five upcoming auction items which I think would look wonderful in my pretend drawing room. They are all being sold at Doyle New York on May 22nd.
A good couch is the centerpiece of any drawing room. How about this mid-18th century Continental Rococo gilt-wood settee, lot 106A, with a padded back of serpentine outline, a shell carved crest rail above a padded seat and raised on cabriole legs terminating in claw and ball feet. I love the worn emerald green of the cushions and would keep that fabric as the starting point of my room's palette and would use rich creams and greens. The cabriole leg with the claw and ball feet shouts Rococo and the gilt-wood just adds to the luxury of this piece. The pre-sale estimate for the settee is $2,000-4,000.
The next item for my imagined room is a pair of chairs. Lot 102 is a pair of Louis XVI painted fauteuils a la reine circa 1780 and stamped H. Jacob.
Each chair has a rectangular padded back above a loose cushion seat outlined with entrelac and raised on circular tapering fluted legs. These chairs in their rectilinear shapes and tapering legs are moving away from the Rococo style of the settee above to the Neoclassical, but I think they would provide a nice contrast to the curvilinear, sensuous couch. A new fabric to coordinate with the faded grandeur green of the settee would of course be needed. The pre-sale estimate for the fauteuils a la reine is $5,000-7,000.
The third piece of in my dream salon, lot 150, is a chest of drawers made of sumptuous materials- satinwood, ebonized mahogany, ebony, gilt-bronze mounts- all capped by a green marble top. This piece is dated circa the late Louis XVI period to the early 19th century and like the fauteuils a la reine above demonstrate a move away from the sinewy Rococo towards a more sober Neoclassicism. The pre-sale estimate for this commode is $6,000-8,000. I love the black in this chest of drawers. Every room should have a touch of black and the green marble top will work with my creams and greens color scheme.
I would of course need some kind of wonderful ornament to adorn the top of my magnificient commode. A pair of lamps definitely, but how about a wonderul clock. Every drawing room should hear the soothing rhythmic ticking of a clock. Lot 276 is not a period 18th century clock but a Louis XV style gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock. The enamel dial has Roman and Arabic numerals. The clock face is surmounted by a putto and the entire clock rests on a wild boar with a naturalistically cast base with scrolled feet. I am guessing this clock is 19th century in date. I love the contrast of the bronze and the gilt and the dark bronze color would pick up the ebony of my lovely commode. Plus, I adore pigs in the decorative arts and who can resist a putto! This clock has a pre-sale estimate of $6,000-8,000.
The final piece for my imagined room is lot 310 a late 18th century oak console with grey veined marble top of serpentine outline, above a pierced, architectural frieze hung with garlands and raised on curved supports. Although this console has the curve of the swagging leaves it is much more restrained than a Rococo piece. I think this oak console would look wonderful between my 2 chairs and the grey marble could easily work into the palette of my room. This piece has a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-4,000.
My fantasy French 18th century room may never come to pass, but it is fun to imagine what pieces I would choose to adorn it. I hope you enjoyed this 18th century moment as much as I did and let's see what I find next week.
Kelly T Keating
www.theantiqueflaneur.com
