Louis XVI Period Sofa, Ottoman

This beautiful Louis XVI period gondola sofa is a beautifully crafted piece, crafted from walnut painted in shades of light gray. The seat is beautifully balanced and features interesting work on the backrest, creating both a distinctive and highly decorative effect.
Large in size, it is a three-seater. This model of seat was highly prized during the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods. It is a gondola sofa, also known as an "ottoman." This term, used by Roubo, Boucher, Delafosse, Ranson, Lalonde, and Bimont, refers to a "sofa with an oval or ellipsoidal plan, with a backrest that is continuous with the sides, whose upper crossbar slopes symmetrically forward on both sides and sometimes returns to the front," which perfectly matches our sofa model.
Roubo indicates that "this daybed is also used for sitting and lying down, either at one end or the other." After analyzing the crosspieces and various elements, we found no trace of a stamp. We noted quality workmanship accompanied by attention to detail and careful joints, all combined with beautiful proportions, indicating a work made by a talented carpenter. Constructed entirely of walnut, it could very well have been made in Paris, Lyon, or Provence.
We found a sofa of identical shape, also from the Louis XVI period, stamped by Dupain (Christie's sale of November 18, 1999, lot 659), but with different ornamentation and carving. Pierre Brizard (Christie's sale of July 4, 2017, lot 66) also produced ottomans in the same style, but we did not find any with the same work on the backrest. While a sofa of this shape could have been produced in Paris, the carving with these large flowers is reminiscent of the work of a Nîmes carpenter, Pierre Pillot, renowned for the quality of his work, mainly Louis XVI. He also initially produced some Louis XV pieces. Trained in Paris in the workshop of Mathieu de Bauve, he could very well have created this splendid sofa.
The entire structure of the seat is in very good condition. The paint is old, possibly the original, with wear and tear. It offers a beautiful patina that blends perfectly with the woodwork. The whole is upholstered in a traditional manner. The upholstery is in good condition with a thick feather cushion, guaranteeing great comfort and reinforcing the idea of a daybed. The fabric covering this sofa is old and of good quality. It shows discoloration, wear, and small holes. However, it can still be used very well, forming a very beautiful ensemble.

Ref: J9GFPGAR99