The French kings enjoyed living at Versailles but spent few weeks every year in more intimate châteaux, hunting and receiving their closest friends. Some furniture is presented in this sale such as an encoignure delivered in the 1740s for the château de Choisy, an exquisite Louis XVI games table with the château de Saint-Cloud inventory numbers and&nbsp; some chairs used in the château de Fontainebleau’s stables.

The Royal Taste

Unusual shapes, precocity of the model, exuberant decoration, sometimes works of art stand out from the ordinary to reveal the inventiveness and excellence of their makers, such as a very early Louis XV commode, a pair of Louis XVI bergères with precious armrests, a massive Louis XVI cylinder bureau and a set of four enameled Viennese wall-lights.

Originality

Louis XV was fond of porcelain and created a French manufacture first at Vincennes and then at Sèvres. It became the the reference of the French chic in the 18th century, starting with the first Royal Vincennes porcelain dinner service delivered to the king in 1753. One plate is offered in this sale, a unique occasion to possess a part of French history. Sèvres was famous for its color and the elaborate decoration, as we can see in the two green Sèvres porcelain vases&nbsp; and the pair of blue ground vases offered too.

Le goût de Sèvres

Le Goût de Sèvres

Historicism was the last fashion in the late 19th century and all the artists copied famous models from the previous centuries. André-Charles Boulle, Caffieri, Weisweiler, all their works used as homage to their masters or inspiration to create hybrids for the new collectors.

Revival Taste

Paris

Senior Project Manager Furniture | Head of sale Silver

Marine de Cenival

Senior Director | Senior International Specialist | Furniture & Decorative Art and Commissaire-priseur

Brice Foisil

Senior Director | Head of Department European Furniture and Decorative Arts

Louis-Xavier Joseph

Head of Department, Silver and Vertue

Thierry de Lachaise

Director | Head of Department Sculpture

Ulrike Christina Goetz

Head of Vertu and Gold Boxes

Alexandra Starp

Cataloguer, 20th Century Design

Clara Besomi

Meet our Specialists

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +33 (0) 1 53 05 53 48 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:bids.paris@sothebys.com">bids.paris@sothebys.com</a>

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events &amp; news.

In this autumn sale, Sotheby’s will present some lots with Royal provenance such as a games table with the mark of the château de Saint Cloud, a Louis XV encoignure made for the château de Choisy and a Vincennes porcelain dinner plate from the first Royal service ordered by Louis XV in 1753. An unusual and very rare early Louis XV commode traditionally said to be a present from Louis XVI to Madame de Tourzel is also offered. A selection of Sèvres porcelain will be part of the sale, with vases with green and blue grounds. 19th century furniture is also present with pieces made by Linke, Beurdeley, Dasson, to recreate a revival atmosphere for collectors.

Classic Design