Provençal Bergère Chair, Stamped Jacques Dubois, Received As Master In 1742, Louis XV Period, 18th Century

Rare Provençal bergère in solid walnut from the Louis XV period. The structure of our bergère, in richly carved and generously molded solid walnut, presents broad and harmonious proportions. The rarity of this seat lies in the openwork of the front rail, typical of Provençal furniture. It also features classic motifs, particularly the laurel leaf decoration. This bergère chair bears the stamp of Jacques Dubois under its stretcher. He became a master craftsman in 1742 and was appointed a sworn member of his guild ten years later in 1752. The JME hallmark being present on the stamp, we can therefore precisely date this chair to the period between 1752 and 1763. "A few years earlier, he had opened a shop for exporting his furniture to the provinces and abroad, which proves the extent of his reputation. (...) Jacques Dubois's works are almost always of extremely high quality, luxury furniture, some of which was made for the marchands-merciers (merchants and haberdashers). (...) Among the pieces bearing his stamp, given the date of his death, we can attribute to him the purely Louis XV style furniture. Conversely, those in the Transition or Louis XVI style are undoubtedly by his son René, who probably acquired them at the end of his father's life." Father, taking an active part in the management of the workshop" VERLET Pierre, Les Ebénistes du XVIIIème siècle Français, Hachette, Paris, 1963. Our bergère is in very good condition. It has a few small restorations (small grafts) on the back of the backrest. (see arrows in photo 7) The upholstery is recent and the seat is very comfortable. The upholstery fabric is sand-colored velvet.