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Armchair

ca. 1700–1710
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 531
This stately armchair ( fauteuil) is richly embellished with symbols of the French monarchy that strongly suggest a royal origin. Interlaced L’s alternating with fleurs-de-lis motifs are carved on the lambrequin-shaped seat rails, while a medallion with the double L monogram surmounted by a crown decorates the crest rail. The chair has been identified with one listed in an inventory drawn up after Louis XIV’s death.1 The king sat on his throne only on special occasions, such as the reception of overseas embassies, which took place in the Apollo Salon or, exceptionally, in the Hall of Mirrors (see cats. 60, 71). At other times, including for the public audiences of foreign diplomats (held in either the royal bedchamber or the Cabinet du Conseil), he was seated on an armchair, and it is possible that this formal example was used as such during an official visit of some kind.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Armchair
  • Date: ca. 1700–1710
  • Culture: French
  • Medium: Carved and gilded walnut, caning; velvet
  • Dimensions: Overall: 57 × 27 5/8 × 28 in. (144.8 × 70.2 × 71.1 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.1738
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

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Armchair (part of a set), Georges Jacob French, Walnut, gilded, French, Paris
Armchair (part of a set)
Georges Jacob
ca. 1780–90
Armchair (fauteuil) from Louis XVI's Salon des Jeux at Saint Cloud, Georges Jacob French, Carved and gilded walnut; gold brocaded silk (not original), French, Paris
Armchair (fauteuil) from Louis XVI's Salon des Jeux at Saint Cloud
Georges Jacob
Louis-François Chatard
1788
Armchair (fauteuil à la reine), Carved and gilded walnut, late 17th-century wool velvet (not original), French, Paris
Armchair (fauteuil à la reine)
French, Paris
ca. 1690–1710
Armchair (Fauteuil à la reine) (one of a pair) (part of a set), Georges Jacob French, Carved and gilded walnut; embroidered silk satin, French, Paris
Armchair (Fauteuil à la reine) (one of a pair) (part of a set)
Georges Jacob
Joseph-François-Xavier Baudoin
ca. 1780–85
Armchair (bergère) (part of a set), Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené, Carved, painted and gilded walnut; modern cotton twill embroidered in silk, French, Paris
Armchair (bergère) (part of a set)
Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené
Louis-François Chatard
ca. 1788

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