A FRENCH GILTWOOD AND AUBUSSON TAPESTRY SALON SUITE

A FRENCH GILTWOOD AND AUBUSSON TAPESTRY SALON SUITE

THE TAPESTRY 18TH CENTURY, THE FRAMES MID-19TH CENTURY

the giltwood frames after Georges Jacob, with moulded and beaded decoration, on fluted supports, covered with 18th century Aubusson tapestry, each decorated with flowers and tasselled drapes suspending medallions, with figures in various pursuits and with scenes from the fables of Jean de la Fontaine, comprising: ten fauteuils and a matching canape (11)

98.5cm high, 182cm wide, 68.2cm deep (max)

Provenance

Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918) the Central Hall / Salon, Halton House , Buckinghamshire

Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942)

Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009)

The Trustees of Exbury House

Literature

Rothschild Archive, London, Manuscript: 000/174/C/3, Christie, Manson & Woods Probate Valuation of 'The Estate of Alfred C. de Rothschild, Esq. C.V.O. Deceased, Halton House Tring'. 1918. Listed as 'A suite of Louis XVI furniture with gilt frameworks carved with ribands, the seats and backs covered with Aubusson Tapestry woven with children and subjects from Aesops Fables in oval medallions, wreathed with flowers on brown ground, consisting of eight fauteuil, one settee.'

Catalogue Note

'The Fables' by Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695), many of which were taken from Aesop, made popular and suitable subjects for tapestry seat covers. They were probably woven after designs by the painter Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) who was court painter to Louis XV and was made Director of Tapestry at Beauvais in 1734. The fashion for 18th century tapestry seat-furniture enjoyed a renaissance in the second-half of the 19th century due to the influence of the Rothschild family and the art dealer Joseph Duveen. Giltwood frames in the Louis XVI style were made to display 18th century tapestry covers.