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French Empire Period Billiard Room Bench openable Dry Bar Columns and Drawers

About the Item

This one of a kind museum quality piece of furniture is an important French Empire period bench or settee dating back to late 18th – early 19th century that furnished the billiard room in a dreamy castle in France, the provenance is the Château de Lavaure near Lyon. The last 3 photos shown the original setting of this sofa. Entirely made of the most precious mahogany, this huge sofa boasts wonderful wooden and ormolu decorative elements and an exceptional cabinetry construction with two steps to reach the seating area and enjoy the billiard game smoothly. On both sides there are two columns with openable drawers resting on hidded drawers. The armrests which are gently curved and terminate with a molded curly inlay are supported on each side by wonderful sphinxes sculptures. The winged sphinxes or sirens are hand carved, black lacquered and gilded with gold leaves. Four male masks with turbans decorate the central band of the sofa just above the two steps. Exquisite gilt bronze decoration finely chiseled in the form of lyre, palmettes and female silhouettes dressed in the fashion of ancient Rome enrich this seating piece of furniture throughout. This palatial sofa served also as a dry bar and storage area thanks to the two columns on both sides with curved doors that opens to interior shelving and two hidden drawers below. A further decorative element are the hand carved bone skittles placed in front of an antique mirror plate plaque in the central band of the sofa and above the carved arches that house the gilt bronze silhouette mounts. A wonderfully chiseled gilt bronze band with leaves motif adorns the lower part of the backrest. A thin bands of brass frame various sections of this sculptural seat. This sumptuous antique settee is a stunning example of cabinet making a hymn to the most ingenious furniture craftsmanship that can be now the focal and the true conversation piece in any room of your home, a statement addition to your billiard or game room or office. This piece of furniture is a prestigious example of cabinet making in very good overall condition considering age and use, original patina and gilding, very minor wear on tiny portions of wood and sphinxes. Original hardware, working locks and keys. Upholstery included, new upholster service available on request. Beyond the fabulous aesthetics and fine details this sofa has an exceptional construction proving that this piece of furniture was designed and created by a master cabinetmaker in the manner of the most prominent architects of that period e.g.Pierre François Léonard Fontaine or Andreï Voronikhin. All the pieces are interlocking, there is no use of screws with the exception of two large hidden screws placed in the curls on the outer sides of the backrest which serve to tighten and settle the entire structure. It is extremely firm, stable and sturdy. The sofa will be delivered disassembled for easier and safer transport, we'll provide you with detailed assembly instructions. The last 3 pictures refer to the original setting of this sofa in the Castle. Dimensions in cm H.126 x W. 234 x D.105 cm

Dimensions:

Height: 49.61 in (126 cm)Width: 92.13 in (234 cm)Depth: 41.34 in (105 cm)Seat Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)

Style:

Empire (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques: