A Louis XVI walnut revolving desk armchair, circa 1780, from the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence
No reserve
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
with a broad semicircular back, the arm supports carved with fluted and rudented consoles, the revolving seat rail ornamented with channelled decoration, on tapering fluted legs, branded “TRB D’APPEL” on the seat rail beneath the upholstery, bearing a transport label inscribed “Bagage – Avignon – 11M – 1862 – 1”, with a beige suede upholstery
Haut. 86 cm, larg. 68 cm, prof. 68 cm ; Height 33 7/8 in., width 26 3/4 in., depth 26 3/4 in.
Probably Alexandre Jules Antoine Fauris de Saint Vincens (1750-1819), then by descent;
Maurice Druon Collection (1918-2009), then by descent;
Millon, 19 September 2023, lot 466;
Artcurial, 17 December 2024, lot 261
Related literature :
B. Pallot, L’art du siège au XVIIIe siècle en France, Paris, 1987
President's Chair of the Aix-en-Provence Court
This fauteuil de bureau à assise tournante, larger than the usual models, was intended for the presidents of courts. A brand mark from the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence, visible under the seat, attests to its use at the end of the 18th century. It was used by Alexandre Jules Antoine Fauris de Saint-Vincens (1750-1819) until the end of the First Empire.
Alexandre Jules Antoine Fauris de Saint-Vincens (1750-1819)
A magistrate, scholar, and politician, he was First President of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence during the Empire. He also served as mayor of Aix-en-Provence and as a member of the Legislative Body. A corresponding member of the Institut de France, a member of several academies, and a co-founder of the Académie d’Aix, he authored numerous works on history, numismatics, and archaeology. His library formed one of the founding collections of the Bibliothèque Méjanes.
Maurice Druon (1918–2009)
Writer, historian, academician, and statesman, Maurice Druon authored the historical series Les Rois maudits (The Accursed Kings), written in collaboration with Pierre de Lacretelle (1886–1969). This fauteuil de bureau was his office chair; it appears in several photographs of him seated at his desk while writing.