A carved giltwood and Beauvais tapestry upholstered sofa by C.Sené Louis XV, circa 1750

ensuite with the previous set of four fauteuils à la reine,stamped C. Sené, the cartouche-shaped back within a serpentine top-rail carved with cartouches and stylised floral trails, with padded sides and above a similarly carved seat-rail above eight scrolled feet, the back upholstered with Beauvais tapestry depicting a scene from Fables de la Fontaine with hens and chickens, the seat depicting a lion attacking a stag, on a cream ground and red surround

Mme. J. Patiño de Ortiz Linares, sold Sotheby's Monaco, 8 February 1981, lot 229
Barbara Piasecka Johnson Collection, Christie's New York, 21^st May 1996, lot 343

Bill. G. B. Pallot, The Art of the Chair in Eighteenth-century France, Paris, 1989, p. 128-129, illustrated. 

Good colour match with catalogue illustration. Overall some minor surface wear to the gilding and some small chips to some of the edges with minor construction cracks. Reblocked corner underneath. In overall very good conserved condition. Tapestry: Very good restored condition overall. Good and balanced colour. Very finely woven, and exceptionally balanced and charming composition. Silk highlights professionally consolidated, so stable. Some reweaving in areas, for example to the hound on the seat (small cream patch). The sofa back has higher percentage of original condition of silks, than the seat. Some colours have faded, for example to some specific tones in the flowers. Still evidence of delicate yellows, purples and pinks in areas. Tapestry panels inside arms (which are removable) are in very good condition. There are some areas of repair to the cerise outer ground and some reweaving, which do not detract from the overall balanced colour and condition. The outside of the arms have been applied with plain cerise coloured silk, not tapestry panels.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, 1979, vol. II, p. 590-596, no. 126
E. Standen, Post-Medieval Tapestries in the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, vol. II, 1985, p. 484-498, no. 74
A. Gonzàlez-Palacios, Gli Arredi Francese, 1996, p. 154-155, p. 174-175.

En suite with lots 12 & 13.

Tapestry seat furniture depicting the Fables de la Fontaine became very popular in the 18^th century. Many artists lent their talents to the designs for these pieces, among which Jean-Baptiste Oudry, most famous for his animal portraits, was greatly sought by the Beauvais manufacture. His most famous Fables cartoon was delivered to Beauvais in 1737 and many variants were produced (Standen, op. cit. p. 484). François Boucher is also believed to have designed a series of cartoons of the Fables for the Beauvais tapestry workshops before 1770. An inventory commissioned by a M. Devin de Gravelle shows:
huit fauteuils et un canapé de trois places de bois doré à chassis couvert de tapisserie de Beauvais, fables d'après des dessins de Boucher, 1,000 livres

This entry could refer to our suite which in the Christie's, New York sale  in 1996,  comprised eight armchairs and a sofa.

The carved details of the frame bring to mind the work of that other great menuisier Louis Cresson.

A few other great suites of seat furniture exist with similar Beauvais tapestry upholstery and can be found in several great collections:

-A suite of six fauteuils, a canapé and fire screen preserved at Waddesdon Manor (de Bellaigue, op. cit. no. 126), ill. p. 591, an armchair of which is reproduced here in fig.1, page 52 of this catalogue.
-Twelve fauteuils and two canapés commissioned by the Baron Bernstorff in Paris in 1754 with frames by Foliot for his palace in Copenhagen and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
-A suite from the John L. Severance Collection, now in the Cleveland Museum of Art and formerly in the Princes of Liechtenstein collection according to Pierre Verlet.
-Eight fauteuils and a canapé were ordered for the Infante Don Felipe of Parma from Beauvais in 1750 and are now in the Quirinale Palace, Rome, González-Palacios, op. cit. p. 154, an armchair of which is reproduced here in fig.2, page 52 of this catalogue. See also pp. 174-175 for similar Beauvais upholstery).
-A suite from the collection of Leopold Double, sold in Paris, 30^th May 1881, lot 406 and subsequently in a Parisian private collection.
-A fauteuil from the collection of the duc de Mortemart also stamped Claude Sené was sold in Paris, 10^th December 1935, lot 16.
-A canapé in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, formerly in the collection of Mrs. Alexander Hamilton Rice.