Sene Le Pere – Circa 1745 – Pair Of Louis XV-era Queen-style Armchairs, Stamped “18th Century”

Pair of armchairs with flat backs, known as “à la Reine,” made of molded, carved, and painted wood, from the Louis XV period, mid-18th century, circa 1745.

Beautifully proportioned, these armchairs feature a wide, flat backrest with a dynamic, scalloped design, the upper crossbar of which is adorned in the center with a carved motif of small flowers and foliage.

The armrests with cuffs rest on sinuous, whip-shaped consoles—molded and carved—that harmoniously join the side rails of the waistband.

The scalloped belts are accentuated by molding and embellished with floral and foliage motifs carved in relief.

The chair rests on four arched legs, molded and finished with scrolls, characteristic of the Louis XV style.

The fluidity of the lines, the generous proportions of the backrests, and the execution of the carved decoration are indicative of Parisian craftsmanship from the mid-18th century.

STAMPS AND HISTORY

Each of the two armchairs bears a two-line stamp:

SENE

LE PERE

This mark belongs to Jean Sené, known as “le Père” (born around 1695), a Parisian master chairmaker active during the first half of the 18th century.

Based on Rue de Cléry in Paris, Jean Sené was the first representative of an important dynasty of chairmakers. He was the father of Claude I Sené and the grandfather of Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené, one of the famous chairmakers of the second half of the 18th century, who was admitted as a master in 1769 and notably served as a supplier to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne.

Jean Sené used the mark “SENE / LE PERE” beginning in the 1740s, a period during which the marking of furniture became widespread in Paris.

His work, primarily consisting of Regency- and Louis XV-style chairs, is characterized by dynamic lines, balanced proportions, and carved decoration combining moldings, foliage, and floral motifs.

Pieces bearing his stamp are relatively few in number.

CONDITION

The armchairs feature a later light gray paint finish, with wear, chipping, and old touch-ups that reveal the underlying layers and the wood in places.

Signs of use and old restorations are visible on the frames.

Seats, backs, and armrests are covered with a later white canvas.
These armchairs have been restored by an upholsterer, with the webbing replaced while preserving the original webbing underneath. New checkered canvas has been applied to the backrest. They are ready to be upholstered with your choice of fabric.

Louis XV period, mid-18th century, circa 1740–1750.

Jean Sené, known as “le Père” (born circa 1695), a Parisian cabinetmaker.

Sold as a pair only.

Delivered in a wooden crate by a shipping carrier (bulky package delivered to the ground floor in front of your home; 250 euros within France, 1,000 euros within the EU, and 2,000 euros to the rest of the world.