19th Century Empire Meridienne or Recamier in Carved Mahogany with Upholstery

An exceptionally beautiful meridienne or fainting couch from the French Empire period with graceful curves and foliate and fleur de lys carvings on the mahogany frame, with upholstered back, seat and sides. Northern Europe, circa 1825.

Restoration includes securing joints, French-polishing mahogany frame and new upholstery using cream-colored Robert Allen cotton twill. Upholstery included replacing jute strapping, re-sewing and 8 way hand tying of springs and adding foam to original materials and hand sewn forms for comfort.
This type of piece is also known as a "recamier" after the celebrated portrait by Jacques-Louis David of Madame Récamier (1777-1849), in which she is painted reclining gracefully on a meridienne at the age of 23. Commissioned by the sitter in 1800, the painting was never completed and remained in the painter's studio until 1826 before entering the Louvre museum's collection. Juliette Récamier was married to a Parisian banker and was one of the most famous socialites of her time.