A suite of South German Aubusson tapestry covered carved giltwood seat furniture, possibly Munich mid 18th century.

comprising of a settee and four armchairs, each armchair with a cartouche shaped padded back arms and drop-in serpentine seat, the frame carved with heartshaped cartouches, rocaille and foliage on a cross-hatched ground, decorated on the back; regessoed and regilt, the upholstered backs and seats with tapestry depicting scenes from the Fables of La Fontaine, after Jean-Baptiste Oudry, on a pale yellow ground

In very good overall condition. Sound and sturdy. The gilded decoration has a build up of dirt and has some wear and minor chips throughout consistent with age and use. Two of the armchairs have repaired breaks to the joints of the top-rails. The gilding on the top-rail of one armchair is slightly more worn than the rest and there is an old repair to left side of the top-rail of the same armchair. Repairs to two of the top-rails of the sofa. Reblocked. Tapestry: retains much of its original colour and details, including pale yellow ground. Brown areas with some discolouration and repairs. Creams discoloured and darker with age. All arm covers with some wear, as light coloured ground. It is largely the central areas with the narrative scenes and animals that have the repairs and some weak areas. Sofa back has some small splits within central cartouche to the sky to the right. The sofa seat has some splits and visible warps and small amounts of pigment to repairs to central area. Small spot areas of repair of different colour to the brown areas at far sides of the seat. Seat furniture: 1) Left chair in the photograph has small splits in sky area between the animals in the back, and the seat has spots of dirt and some splits. 2) The chair in the photograph at the back (largely obscured), on the seat back has noticeable dark staining/ applied area of dirt/pigment, across the light area and animals in the centre, and the seat has small splits in the centre. 3) The seat in the front centre of the photograph has area of dirt in the centre, as visible in the photograph, and the seat has a split above the net and lion in the sky which shows the white upholstery lining underneath. 4) The last chair, to the far right of the photograph has some repairs to silks, and the seat has splits and dirt/pigment and needs some attention. An impressive suite with beautiful upholstery and intricate carving to the frames. Measurements: Sofa: 195cm. wide, 107cm.high, 42cm. floor to seat., 78cm. depth of seat; 6ft.5in., 3ft.6½in., 1ft.4¾in., 2ft.7in. Chair: 108cm. high, 42cm floor to seat, 70cm. wide; 62cm. depth of seat; 3ft.6¾in., 1ft.4¾in., 2ft.4in., 2ft.½in.
"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:
Gerhard Hojer/Hans Ottomeyer, Die Möbel der Residenz München II, Munich, 1996, p.191, fig. 48 for a fauteuil conceived in a similar vein to the present suite now in the Munich Residenz. 

The rich rocaille and assymetrical carving is reminiscent of the latter part of François Cuvillies's (1695 - 1768) career. However, the current suite lacks the rigid discipline of the French trained Cuvillies, and brings to mind to the fluidity of the work of Simon Pruckherr (Prugger) (1679-1756) or Johann Caspar Hörspurcher, both of whom delivered a variety of furniture to the Munich court. See Heinrich Kreisel, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels II, Munich, 1970, pp. 177/178, figs. 448, 449, 450 for console tables by both cabinet-makers carved in a similar vein to the present lot.

See catalogue note at Sothebys.com