François-Claude MENANT (1757-1793). Rare suite of six cabrio - Lot 221

François-Claude MENANT (1757-1793). Rare suite of six cabriolet armchairs in cream and carved rechampi wood, the gendarme hat back, the armrests with cuffs, resting on four tapered and fluted legs, the front legs partly filleted. Pink silk upholstery. Stamped C.MENANT and numbered on the belt from 1 to 6. Louis XVI period (Dim.: 91.5 x 45 x 57 cm - H. (seat): 41.5 cm) (some minor restorations, notably to an armrest, some stains to the upholstery). François-Claude MENANT, furniture carpenter, became a master in 1786. "He then practiced on rue de Charenton with some success, but had little time to make a name for himself before the Revolution halted the growth of his business (...) During his short period of activity, Menant produced some fine works which bear the stamp opposite. A bedstead bearing this stamp is part of the furniture belonging to Mr. Jean de Lamotte in Paris. Baroness Henri de Pontalba, née de Coulombiers, owns four small "cabriolets" by the same author at the Château de La Victoire, near Senlis. Other seats signed by him were in the former collections of Mme Ephrussi and Mme Lantelme." (Comte François de Salverte, "Les ébénistes du XVIIIe siècle" F. de Nobele, Paris)