catalog text
FRENCH LOUIS XVI STYLE SCRUBBED PAINT THREE-PIECE DUCHESSE BRISÉE
Circa mid-to-late 19th century, in worn brown leather upholstery
Item # 911ZST24A
This very distinctive form is coined a "Duchesse Brisée" and is quite difficult to find, particularly one as interesting as the present example. A flexible form that functions in so many different settings, it is intended to be a chaise longue but can be arranged as a "His and Hers" setup in a sitting room or one chair can be conjoined with the ottoman as a lounging chair and the other can be placed elsewhere in the home.
Crafted of solid beech, the surface was at one point polychromed in several layers with varying gray hues. These have since been scrubbed and reduced to a distressed and chaotic finish with the warmer ochre hints left intact on the raised elements and cooler saturated gray remnants in the recesses. The structure is locked together with pinned tenon-mortise joinery and the frame is carved in the typical manner with a rope-twist motif around the frame, large floral and foliate carvings in the crest and inset rosettes over the turned, tapered and fluted legs.
An old brown leather covering on the set should be changed, this with some tearing, wear and open seams. It remains incredibly comfortable though and could continue to serve for the time being until being recovered.
Rarely do we stumble across such a compelling chaise and it is really a treasure. A special piece that absolutely catches your eye and defines the interior.
Measurements: 83 1/2" total length; larger chair: 37" H x 26 1/4" D x 28 5/8" W, 19 1/2" H to seat; smaller chair: 29 3/4" H x 22" D x 25 3/4" W, 19" H to seat
Condition Report:
Leather is torn and worn with torn gaps at the seams. Old cracks in the frames throughout (including visible hairline crack in crest rail of the larger chair) and heavily distressed/scrubbed painted surface showing much of the underlying beech hardwood frame. Sturdy, strong and very comfortable.