Bronze Mounted Meridienne
SOLD
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND ELEGANT GILT BRONZE MOUNTED MERIDIENNE
French
Circa 1815-1825
The gilt bronze in original condition.
This asymmetrical daybed with a high end and a low end joined by a sloping back, supported on shaped bracket feet with finely carved inset scrolls on every angle and mirrored at the top of each end. The seat rail is inset with an ormolu band of alternating anthemions and palmettes which continue around the sides and back. The scrolling uprights at each end are inset with ormolu mounts in the form of stylised foliage issuing from cornucopia. Uniquely the scrolling top rail has a continuous ormolu moulding which borders the fabric.
The magnificently decorated and perfectly proportioned Meridienne almost certainly formed part of an important commission from a leading Parisian workshop.
Jacob Freres favoured the anthemion and palmette motifs as did the Russian court.
The Meridienne design emerged during the First Consulate and remained popular during the Restauration period. The name derived from the idea of a siesta in the middle of the day when the sun had reached its meridian.
Width: 57” (145cm)
Depth: 26” (66cm)
Height: Head 33 ½” (85cm)
Foot 25 ¼” (6cm)
Seat depth: 22” (56cm)
Seat height: 15” (38cm)
Seat depth: 45 ½” (115cm)
