Duchesse brisée armchair in walnut wood, Piedmont, late 18th century

Duchesse brisée armchair in walnut wood, Piedmont, late 18th century Dimensions: cm H 94 x W 196 x D 72; Seat H 51 cm Price: confidential negotiation Object accompanied by our certificate of authenticity This particular armchair, called Duchesse brisée, was made in Piedmont in the Neoclassical period, towards the end of the 18th century. The name bergère duchesse indicates an armchair or lit de repos and finds its greatest diffusion in the furnishings of French noble palaces and European courts of the 18th century. This is an armchair that probably owes its name to Madame de Pompadour, the famous favorite of King Louis XV of France, and is characterized by its inclined back, deep seat and set-back armrests particularly designed to give space to the bulky skirts of 18th-century ladies who were supported by paniers, a kind of caged petticoat to be worn under the sumptuous dresses of the time. There are several variants of this type. This one, brisée, is in fact composed of two separable sections, one to accommodate the seat and the other designed both to sit, creating a living room, and to stretch the legs, joining the two parts, and transforming it into a dormeuse or chaise longue, suitable for daytime rest. This duchesse, in walnut wood, has a circular and enveloping backrest, with a moving and mixtilinear profile carved with reserves, phytomorphic elements and armrests ending in a curl. The larger seat has a higher backrest and six legs; the second portion, with a similar design, has a lower backrest and four legs. The legs all originate from a quadrangular capital carved with floral decoration and have a column shaft in the shape of an inverted and fluted truncated cone. Very decorative and versatile in its use, it can also be placed in the center of rooms such as living rooms, studies and bedrooms. It is possible to present it united in its elements, usable as a sofa and chaise longue, or, if necessary, transform it into two comfortable and comfortable seats, even interspersed with tables or coffee tables. The lining covering the cushions and the wooden structure is in a good state of preservation.