BY JEAN-BAPTISTE TILLIARD, CIRCA 1765

Details

A PAIR OF LOUIS XV LIGHT BLUE PAINTED FAUTEUILS
BY JEAN-BAPTISTE TILLIARD, CIRCA 1765
The top rails centred by a shell motif, flanked by foliate swags, with padded outswept scrolling arms, the supports carved with further foliate swags and a Greek key motif, above the seat rail carved with a central shell, on scrolling cabriole legs headed by rosettes, upholstered in a blue and white floral fabric, each stamped 'TILLIARD', the decoration refreshed
38 in. (96.5 cm.) high; 24 7/8 in. (63 cm.) wide; 21 in. (53.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

Property of a private collector, Christie's, New York, 20 October 2006, lot 810 ($156,000).

Special Notice

This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Sale Room Notice

Please note that this lot should be marked with a square symbol in the printed catalogue.

Brought to you by

Peter Horwood

phorwood@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2359

Lot Essay

Jean-Baptiste Tilliard (1686 - 1766), maître in 1717, menuisier du Garde-Meuble du Roi from 1728 and active until 1766, and Jacques-Jean-Baptiste Tilliard (1723 - 1798), maître in 1752, menuisier du Garde-Meuble du Roi from 1766.
Although the cartouche-shaped back and cabriole legs on this pair of fauteuils harks back to the rocaille of the 1750s, the use of Greek key arm terminals represents among the earliest stirrings of the neo-classical style. Tilliard - alongside Louis Delanois - was leading the way in neo-classical designs, including the use of oval backs, in the early 1760s. This is confirmed by the historically significant miniature chair by Tilliard, which was acquired by Lord Coventry from Simon-Phillippe Poirier between 1763 - 1768 (sold Christie's, New York, 26 October 2001, lot 88). Another example of related early neoclassicism in a Tilliard design for seat furniture is seen in a suite of polychrome-painted transitional seat furniture, stamped by Tilliard, sold from the Champalimaud collection, Christie's, London, 6 July 2005, lot 10.

THE TILLIARD DYNASTY
Jean-Baptiste Tilliard was one of the pre-eminent menuisiers of his day. He worked in conjunction with his brother Nicolas (until 1750) and from 1752 with his son Jean-Baptiste II, all three using the same stamp. He received regular Royal commissions as well as from a large number of distinguished clients. Jean-Baptiste II worked under his father's direction until 1766, probably dealing with boiseries and room decoration.

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