Settee (one of a pair)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite settee, one of a pair crafted between 1769 and 1771, exemplifies the opulent fusion of British and French artistry during the late Rococo to Neoclassical transition. Commissioned likely for the 6th Earl of Coventry it was designed by London cabinet-makers John Mayhew and William Ince, with contributions from Jacques Neilson, Maurice Jacques, and Louisier. The frame of gilded fruitwood—carved with elegant curves and neoclassical motifs—showcases the finest English woodworking, while the upholstery comes from France's prestigious Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins, renowned for its royal tapestries. The seat and back are covered in a luxurious wool-and-silk tapestry (22-24 warps per inch), featuring vibrant floral designs that evoke the natural splendor of 18th-century gardens. This high thread count reflects Gobelins' masterful low-warp technique, ensuring durability and intricate detail for palatial interiors. At 44 × 75 × 32½ inches, the settee invited leisurely conversation in grand country houses like Croome Court. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation in 1958, this piece highlights the era's international luxury trade, blending British innovation with French textile supremacy. Visitors can appreciate how such furniture defined aristocratic taste, bridging art and everyday elegance.

About the Artist

John Mayhew|William Ince|Jacques Neilson|George William Coventry, 6th earl of Coventry|Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins|Maurice Jacques|Louis Tessier (British|British) · 1736 |1704 –1811 |1804

British, 1736–1811|British, active ca. 1758/59–1794, died 1804