La Mésangère - Furniture And Objects Of Taste At The Early 19th Century, Polychrome Engravings Golden Wood Frame 1/7

Series of engravings / Hand-watercolored plates from the "Collections of furniture and objects of taste" published by Pierre de la Mésangère (1761-1831), who published between 1801 and 1815 a catalog illustrating the evolution of the taste for decorative arts under the Empire and the Restoration, intended to disseminate in France and around the world the latest fashions and trends of French taste at the beginning of the 19th century. This collection is a bible for collectors of the empire era in order to understand the evolution of the fashion of the time and its diffusion in the decorative arts. To highlight this set, we have selected engravings and subjects by family of objects, and presented them in wooden frames gilded with gold leaf, in the Empire style and from the restoration period, each engraving inscribed in a window standing out against a dark blue background. This set is the first in a series of 7 frames that we will be offering for sale with these matching finishes. This first frame presents empire mahogany secretaries and desks and en-suite chests of drawers with their flamed mahogany secretaries. we recognize at the bottom right a chest of drawers and a secretary with a rich model of lictor's beams, attributed to Jean Jacques Werner, a copy of which was sold at Christie's in 2014 (https://www.christies.com/en/lot /lot-5840255). The work of watercoloring the boards is remarkable, particularly that to simulate the flaming of the mahogany. NB: this first set is perfectly complemented by the following set presenting curtains and textiles, presented in an identical frame matching this one. Other boards available in our possession to complete this set later. Excellent condition, fresh engravings, sometimes with traces of folding. Frames in wood and stucco gilded with gold leaf in excellent condition, restored by our gilder. Frame dimensions 97 by 75cm