Armchair (Bergère à la reine) (one of a pair) (part of a set)
ca. 1785
Medium
Carved and gilded walnut, modern silk lampas
Dimensions
40 3/8 × 27 × 24 1/8 in. (102.6 × 68.6 × 61.3 cm)
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman Gift, 1973
Accession Number
1973.305.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Bergère à la reine* armchair, crafted circa 1785 by Parisian *ébéniste* Jean-Baptiste-Bernard Demay, embodies the neoclassical elegance of Louis XVI-era France. One of a matching pair within a larger set, it features a frame of carved and gilded walnut, its sinuous lines and floral motifs evoking the refined opulence of pre-Revolutionary aristocracy. The modern silk lampas upholstery, patterned with delicate flowers, enhances its regal allure while preserving the original design's luxurious intent. The "à la reine" style nods to Queen Marie Antoinette's taste for light, symmet...