A rare pair of carved walnut sièges à poupées Louis XIV, circa 1660

each with a rectangular padded back above spirally turned arms on supports in the form of Anne of Austria above a rectangular padded seat, on composite block and spirally turned legs joined by a front and a h-form stretcher on flattened bun feet, the upholstery comprising of panels of associated 17th century, Italian or Spanish, claret coloured silk velvet with appliqué foliate motifs, a swag and pendant beads, and centred with associated exotic bird, with narrow scrolling four-sided foliate border  

Joints sound and sturdy. Old very minor marks, chips and scrtatches commensurate with age. Evidence of old worm which appears to be no longer active. Rare, with the full length figure instead of a bust figure. Recommended.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Guillaume Janneau, Les Sièges, Paris, 1993, p.24, no. 44.
Un temps d'exhubérance-Les arts décoratifs sous Louis XIII et Anne d'Autriche, Galeries nationals du Grand Palais, 9^th April -8^th July 2002, Paris 2002, p. 231, no. 134 (a,b, & c), where there are illustrated various armchairs with very similar supports headed by a bust of Anne of Austria, see for example one in the Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris, inv. Pe. 1335 (a), another in the Musée du Louvre, Inv. OA. 246 (b), and one in the Musée national de la Renaissance, Ecouen, Inv. E.Cl. 20473.T.

This model called `siège à poupée' was well known throughout the middle of the 17^th century. It was characterised by a low back and four turned legs joined by an h-form stretcher which are headed by a lion mask or the bust of a woman. These busts present a hairstyle of the 1640's, with a parted fringe and long hair with a string of pearls. There are some variations: the ones in the musée des Arts décoratifs wear a feathered cap, those in the Louvre have ringlets and  those in Écouen are decorated with two crowns with feathers behind.

The rarity of this model lies in the fact that it is a full figure of Anne of Austria and not just a bust which was most commonly the case. Another example with the full figure arm supports, is illustrated by Janneau, op. cit., p. 28, no. 44, reproduced here in fig.1. Also see the Collections Bruno Perrier, Ader Tajan, 7th December 1993, p. 160, no. 118, for another related example with the full figure, reproduced here in fig. 2. 

A single related armchair was sold as lot 292, in these Rooms, Haute Epoque, 31st October 2006.