A pair of rococo carved giltwood and painted banquettes, by Nicola Carletti, Rome, 1768-1769

raised on five cabriole legs; upholstered with later printed cotton fabric

Related literature:
A. González-Palacios, Il tempio del gusto: Roma e l’Italia meridionale, vol. I, Milan, 1986;
A. González-Palacios, Arredi e ornamenti alla corte di Roma, Milan, 2004;
D. Di Castro, Il Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi, Rome, 1999;
G. Lizzani, Il mobile romano, Milan, 1970, p. 105, ill. 181.

The illustration of the catalogue is dull by comparison to reality. More vibrant in reality. There are the inevitable dents, marks, cracks and scratches due to age and use. There are minor construction cracks to the armrests. There are some chips and losses to the gilding and to the painting revealing the gesso and the red bowl underneath. Each banquette has been reinforced under the seatrail by eight wooden blocks. There are old traces of woodworms. There are some stains to the fabrics. Banquette 1: The front and right hand side foot is partly damaged because of old woodworms and there are losses to the scroll of the foot. Banquette 2: The gilding of the front and left hand side foot is scratched with some losses. Both constructions are firm. Rare and elegant pair of banquettes with an almost certainly provenance from the Villa Chigi on the Salaria. Impressive liveliness of the sculpture.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This pair of banquettes relates to the accomplished suite of Roman rococo furniture delivered by Nicola Carletti to Cardinal Flavio II Chigi (1711-1771) in 1768-70 for his villa built on the Salaria.

The banquettes represent a newly found balance in Roman rococo furniture, with naturalistic elements asymmetrically adorning a boldly carved scrolled giltwood body. Distinguished by the absence of seat-backs, this kind of seat furniture is typical of mid-18th century interiors, and was to be found in boudoirs and salette of palazzi and ville di campagna alike. 

Several stylistic features tie together the exquisite suite of furniture realised for the Cardinal's villa, namely: the entwined trails and swags of creeping flowers and leaves; the elegant acanthus-scrolled feet; and the unusual twisted-ribbon motifs bordering not only the seats but also the top of the console tables.

The Villa Chigi on the Salaria was conceived as an ex novo Rococo ensemble. The furniture commissioned reflected the painted decoration of the ambiences, which featured ivy and oak swags, the latter a heraldic device of the Chigis, and twisted-ribbon frames for the frescoes, creating a beautifully organic environment. The contents of the villa were dispersed on the open market in the 1960s. Importantly, crucial photographic evidence taken by British author Georgina Masson prior to the dispersal shows a pair of identical banquettes still in situ, with a pair of consoles d'applique identical to those forming lot 10 in the present sale (Archives of the American Academy in Rome). 

For his villa, but also for his apartment at Palazzo Chigi, redecorated in the "French" manner, the Cardinal employed the best craftsmen available in Rome at the time. A virtuoso, Nicola Carletti had already proved himself one of the most brilliant intagliatori, having worked throughout the two previous decades for the Princes Corsini and Doria Pamphilij. 

Apart from Carletti, who carved at least two suites of seat furniture and tables in 1768-70, the gilders Angelo and Alessandro Clementi and the painter Pietro Rotati were also employed, the latter painting the polychrome carved decoration (cf. A. González-Palacios, op. cit., p. 68).

Two banquettes, certainly from the same suite, were sold Sotheby's London, A Tale of Two Cities, 9 June 2015, lot 132, with a console table also from the same group (lot 133), and now in an important private collection.