Research:
Of stained beech wood, with yellow silk upholstery. The three integral cushions rest upon an upholstered foundation which is a attached to a continuously undulating concave frieze. From the frieze issue eight cabriole legs, each terminating in an acanthus carved toe. Minor old repairs.
Marks:
Old pencil inscription twice to underside ‘J.D’
Old indistinct red crayon numbering to underside.
Provenance:
Mica Ertegun for and important North American Mac II project, in the late 1980s
Banquettes were a ubiquitous feature of grand French chateaux and town houses in the Louis XV period, employed in ballrooms, salons and corridors of the piano nobile as occasional seating.
However, the great scale of the present example, which measures almost 8 feet in length, is very uncommon and indicates that it was made for a building of exceptional grandeur.
Full research report available on request.