French Louis XVI Period, Beechwood Banquette

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French Louis XVI Period, Beechwood Banquette

About the Item

A French Louis XVI period, beechwood banquette stamped twice on each bottom rail, “JB BOULARD”, by Jean-Baptiste Boulard, who became a master joiner in 1755. The banquette has a close, tight seat with loose cushion above a guilloche-carved seatrail and paterae-headed, tapering stop-fluted legs. It may have originally been painted or gilded. Today, it is presented in stained beechwood.

The banquette has had restoration characteristic of usage through the years. Recently, all of its upholstery was removed, and the piece was disassembled and reassembled in the traditional 18th century manner after its joints were cleaned and prepared. The piece was then waxed and reupholstered in a fine, French document fabric correct for the period.

Jean-Baptiste Boulard

Jean-Baptiste Boulard (1725-1789) is considered to be one of the great Parisian menuisiers of his day. He was accepted as a maître on April 17, 1754. In 1777, he was appointed Fournisseur-Ordinaire du Mobilier de la Couronne. From that time until his death, he supplied furniture to the Garde-Meuble for use in various royal palaces. Most of his work consisted of chairs of which many were Louis XVI style.

Boulard collaborated with menuisier Jean-Baptiste Sené (1747-1803) and Jean-Baptiste II Tillard (1723-1797). He was elected conseilleur of the corporation of Menuisiers-Ébénistes on March 29, 1789, a few weeks prior to his death. His widow continued the workshop, and despite the Revolution, the business survived and was run by his descendants until 1832.

Examples of Boulard’s work can be found in the Musée du Louvre, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Carnavalet in Paris, The Wallace Collection in London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Château de Chantilly.

Vetted Antique Shows/Fairs
Palm Beach | America’s International Fine Art and Antiques Fair, West Palm Beach, FL, 2007

Provenance
Paris, France
Private Collection, New York, New York
Mary Helen McCoy Fine Antiques, Charleston, South Carolina

Dimensions:
Height: 21 in (53.34 cm)Width: 43.25 in (109.86 cm)Depth: 15 in (38.1 cm)
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
18th Century and Earlier
Date of Manufacture:
1780
Condition:
Please see Item Description.
Seller Location:
Charleston, SC
Reference Number:
1stDibs: U081110857731