A pair of carved giltwood and Beauvais tapestry upholstered marquises each stamped C. Sené, en suite with the previous lot Louis XVI, circa 1780

each with an arched padded back within a giltwood frame carved with guilloche, above padded arms and a loose cushion seat, the downscrolled arms carved with a lotus leaf, on fluted tapering legs surmounted by paterae, the ivory ground Beauvais tapestry depicting garlands hung with floral musical trophies and futher floral panels; regilt

Adélaïde Lalive de La Briche (1755-1844),Château du Marais, Seine-et-Oise
Hotel de Maisons, 51 rue de l'Université, Paris
Christie's New York, 30th October 1993, lot 372.

Overall minor surface wear to carved giltwood and some tiny chips to gilding. Hairline construction cracks at joints commensurate with age. In overall very good conserved condition. Tapestry: Overall is in very good condition, with balanced colour overall. They are very finely woven. The inside of each arm has a floral tapestry panel of floral swags in husk surrounds, all of which are in good condition. There are some small splits and joins. Some minor areas of wrinkling and minor repairs, some minor wear to the centres of the cushion seats. Some repair to the arm pads. Top of seat backs faded, but stable condition. Reverse of the seat backs upholstered with plain yellow silken material. Both chairs have new professionally applied linen lining, in the seat, on which the removable cushion seat is placed, and to the underneath of the cushion seat. Cushion applied with modern complimentary coloured (pink, cream and golden) braid, and the edges of the other panels with(yellow/green and speckled sparkling gold) braid.
"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."

Adélaïde Lalive de La Briche (1755-1844), see fig.1 (lot 43):
Through her marriage to Lalive de La Briche , she became known as Madame La Briche. She was born in Nancy on 9th December  1755 and died in Paris on 24th January 1844 and was the daughter of Bon Prévost, receveur général des fermes de Lorraine and his wife Marie Le Maître de la Martinière.The latter was the sister of Jean le Maître de La Martinière, Treasurer General of the Artillery, who enjoyed an immense fortune and built the impressive Château de Marais near Saint-Chéron. He died without issue so he left his château to his niece and nephews but it was Adélaïde who became the sole owner of the Château du Marais.

In 1780, she married Alexis Janvier Lalive de la Briche (1735-1785), the intermediary of the ambassadors to the court of Louis XVI. He was much older than his wife and Lalive de Briche predeceased her and left her a beautiful hôtel particulèire in Paris in rue de la Ville-l'Éveque in the area of the Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Madame Houdetot wrote of Adélaïde's, `Talent, esprit, raison, maintien, figure même, tout chez elle était assorti'..`Elle conservait une attitude modeste et Bourgeoise'- thus wrote Charles de Rémusat: `on trouvait qu'elle avait l'air d'une gouvernante de bonne maison. Avec très peu d'esprit, elle avait un excellent  esprit  et le goût de l'esprit...Elle amait les gens de lettres et de spectacle.C'était une excellente maîtresse de maison et une femme d'une bontéparfaite, mais elle n'avait ni bonne grace, ni mouvement. '