The Fine Interiors sale at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) in Stansted Mountfitchet on June 29-30 included a number of Louis XV and Louis XV-style pieces from Farm House on Farm Street, Mayfair – including these two top-sellers.
Royal piece
The 3ft 4in (1m) kingwood, tulipwood, sycamore and parquetry inlaid meuble d’entrée was a royal piece: made for the use of Louis XVI at Château de Fontainebleau.
The order was number 265, on October 16, 1786, and is mentioned in the bill of the famous marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre (credited as the inventor of furniture mounted with Sèvres porcelain).
The meuble d’entrée has an inventory number 53 beneath a crown, bearing the letter F to denote Fontainebleau. It has the signature for Etienne Levasseur twice to the top of the carcass; however, it was more probably made by Simon or Jean-François Oeben with Levasseur restoring the piece at a later date.
Its condition is somewhat compromised by all-over later gilt metal mounts in addition to evidence of repair and typical splits, lifting and losses to the veneers.
This meuble d’entrée had made two relatively recent appearances at Sotheby’s: first in New York in 1993 and again in London as part of the Dimitri Mavrommatis collection in 2008 (£12,500). This time the hammer price was £23,000 (£10,000-15,000).
Late 19th century bombé form floral marquetry meuble d’appui – £26,000 at Sworders.
A late 19th century Louis XV-style bombé form floral marquetry meuble d’appui also measured 3ft 4in (1m) wide. Made in amaranth and kingwood with a breche violette marble top and scrolling foliate ormolu mounts, it is stamped Mon Zwiener Jansen Sucr for Joseph- Emmanuel Zwiener, working in the revival taste with Jansen of Paris.
In good condition save some small splits and very minor lifting to the veneer, it took £26,000 (estimate £6000-8000).
