Lot 180 | Île-de-France | LARGE AND RARE OAK ARMCHAIR, SO-CALLED CAQUETOIRE

LARGE AND RARE OAK ARMCHAIR, SO-CALLED CAQUETOIRE.

Île-de-France.
Date: 2nd half 16th c.
Technique: Oak carved.
Description: Trapezoidal seat with a high backrest with openwork tracery. The curved armrests at the
front in expressively crafted, fully sculpted figures of monks, each holding a book.
Measurement: Height 129cm, width 60cm.

Provenance:
Private collection North Rhine-Westphalia acquired from Päpke & Anowitz GmbH, Düsseldorf, 1999.

This rare example is also known as a conversation chair and was created in France during the Renaissance. The name 'caquetoire' is derived from the French word for 'to chat', caqueter. The term was used by contemporaries for this type of furniture or for relaxed situations where you could sit by the fireside and chat. The trapezoidal seat, which provided sufficient space for the wide-spreading women's gowns of the time, is characteristic of these chairs.