Lot 12: - A pair of carved giltwood Beauvais tapestry upholstered fauteuils à la Reine, stamped C. Sené Louis XV, circa 1750

each with a cartouche-shaped padded back with a serpentine top-rail carved with a cartouche and stylised wings above padded arms on voluted supports, the serpentine fronted seat carved with foliate scrolls raised on cabriole legs terminating in cartouche carved cabochon feet, the backs carved en reparure with foliage; upholstered with the original Beauvais tapestry depicting scenes from the Fables de la Fontaine enclosed by floral garlands on a cream ground and red surround

98cm. high, 77cm. wide, 60cm. deep; 3ft. 2in., 2ft. 5¾in., 1ft. 11¼in.

Bill. G. B. Pallot, The Art of the Chair in Eighteenth-century France, Paris, 1989, p.128-129, illustrated.For a footnote on Beauvais tapestry see lot 14 on p.54.
En suite with lots 13 & 14.

Mme. J. Patiño de Ortiz Linares, sold Sotheby's Monaco, 8th February 1981, lot 229
Barbara Piasecka Johnson Collection, Christie's New York, 21υst May 1996, lot 343

Claude Sené:
Claude, the son of Jean Sené, the founder of the dynasty of chair-makers, was received maître in 1743. Two years later he married Marie-Jeanne Saint-Georges, which promulgated a partnership with her brother the menuisier Jean-Etienne, based in the rue de Cléry. From 1746 to 1780 they worked together while each keeping their individual stamp and production. Until 1753 he probably entrusted Nicolas Heurtaut with the carving of his chairs. He produced both rococo and Louis XVI styles with the same ease and finesse of carving, which attracted the likes of famous patrons including the duc de Montmorency. Claude was followed by his two sons Jean-Baptiste-Claude the elder and Claude II the younger, who both became famous chair-makers in their own right.