A pair of Consultat fauteuils by Demay, circa 1800, stamped DEMAY RUE DE CLERY

Jean-Baptiste Bernard Demay (1759-1848), maître in 1784.

Minor scattered scuffs, scratches and nicks consistent with age and use. Old repairs to back scrolls and one paw foot. Upholstery in good condition and sturdy construction, ready to use.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Like his contemporary Bernard Molitor, Demay became a master in the final years of the Ancien Régime and then successfully navigated the changing political and aesthetic landscapes of the Revolutionary and Empire periods.  His early work was in the late Louis XVI taste, including a set of chairs supplied to Marie-Antoinette for the Petit Trianon and a pair of fashionable balloon back chaises à la montgolfière (Paris, Musée Carnavalet).  After the Revolution he adapted his style to the more pared-down forms of the Directoire and Consulate periods, and moved his atelier from the Faubourg Saint-Antoine to the traditional menuisier district in the Rue de Cléry, introducing the stamp that appears on the present lot. A comparable unstamped pair of mahogany armchairs with identical lion's head terminals from the Kentshire collection was sold Sotheby's New York, October 18, 2014, lot 209 ($22,500).  A single fauteuil attributed to Demay of virtually identical model with scrolled back and lion's heads terminals was sold Christie's South Kensington, June 2, 2015, lot 19 (GB 7500).