Pair Antique Late 19th C Louis XV Style Aubusson Canopy Settees

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Description

An exceptionally beautiful and very rare matched pair of French Louis XV-style settees, distinguished by their graceful carved frames and … Read more An exceptionally beautiful and very rare matched pair of French Louis XV-style settees, distinguished by their graceful carved frames and sumptuous Aubusson-style tapestry upholstery. Romantic, sophisticated, and wonderfully decorative, these settees embody the elegance associated with the great French interiors of the Louis XV tradition. Finding a single settee of this character is desirable; encountering a true matched pair creates an especially impressive opportunity for a large and carefully considered interior.

Each settee possesses the wonderfully fluid silhouette characteristic of Louis XV design, with virtually no severe straight lines interrupting the composition. The backs rise in a broad, gently serpentine form, culminating in a delicately carved central crest. From there, the exposed wooden frames sweep downward into deeply curved upholstered sides and gracefully shaped open arm supports, creating an enveloping, almost feminine profile.

The carved wood frames have a warm honey-gold finish, beautifully complementing the muted coloration of the tapestry. Fine carved floral and foliate details ornament the crest rails, aprons, knees, and other strategic points without overpowering the overall design. The serpentine front rails are particularly attractive, centered by carved floral ornament and supported by elegant cabriole legs terminating in scrolling feet—a quintessential expression of the French Rococo vocabulary.

What makes this pair especially captivating is the magnificent Aubusson upholstery. Aubusson, a town in central France celebrated for centuries for its tapestry weaving, became synonymous with sophisticated pictorial and floral textiles used in important French interiors. Here, the upholstery presents an enchanting composition of roses, blossoms, trailing foliage, scrolling ribbons, and Rococo-inspired ornament against a soft cream-to-pale-green ground.

The palette is exceptionally appealing. Delicate shades of rose pink, coral, crimson, celadon green, sage, ivory, pale gold, and muted brown create a softly aged effect that harmonizes perfectly with the carved frames. Deeper red panels along the lower sides provide dramatic contrast and emphasize the settees' curving architecture.

Each settee is fitted with a large, generously proportioned loose seat cushion, continuing the floral tapestry pattern and providing a relaxed level of comfort that contrasts beautifully with the refinement of the frames. Traditional decorative nailhead trim carefully follows the contours of the upholstery, providing another layer of hand-finished detail.

These settees are particularly effective because they combine architectural elegance with extraordinary textile interest. Their relatively intimate proportions allow them to function beautifully in a formal living room, drawing room, bedroom, library, or grand entrance hall. Positioned opposite one another across a cocktail table, they would create a spectacularly symmetrical French salon arrangement.

With their rare matched-pair status, elaborate Aubusson upholstery, carved Louis XV frames, sweeping serpentine backs, cabriole legs, floral carving, and extraordinarily romantic coloration, these settees possess the unmistakable decorative presence of fine French furniture. They are not simply seating pieces but complete decorative compositions, bringing together carving, upholstery, color, proportion, and the enduring elegance of the French Louis XV tradition.


Dimensions: 32.5 inches high x 55.75 inches wide x 28.25 inches deep. Seat height 18.75 inches. See less