A rare giltwood and gesso dog`s sedan chair Louis XV, circa 1765

of pagoda form, the arched top with ostrich feather plumes, covered with red velvet with brass studs, the interior with a red velvet cushion, on a giltwood base ornamented with dog motifs, on cabriole legs, decoration refreshed

Comparative Literature:
F.J.B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, Vol. 1 Greenwich, 1966, pp.98-99, nos. 68A-B 

Good overall condition. Re-gilded and newly upholstered and ready for dog. Interior re-painted. Dog in catalogue illustration not included.
"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."

During the eighteenth century lapdogs were extremely popular with fashionable ladies of high society and were kept not only for companionship but were considered accessories. Many paintings of the era depict these dogs as symbols of fidelity and the ultimate plaything of their owners. Jean- Homoré Fragonard, one of the best and most-well known of painters of the period, inclided lapdogs in many of his works such as `The Love Letter', `The Shirt Withdrawn' and his famous `Young Women playing with a dog'. For the comfort of these small creatures, dog kennels quickly became fashionable additons to many sophisticated domestic interiors and thus ist was surprising that they were executed and decorated with the utmost care. Paintings and engravings from the period often include dog kennels as is the case in `La Soirée d`Hyver' by F.R.Ingouf fils for the first volume of Monument du Costume  and `The Thieving Marmoset', attributed to J.J. Bachelier.  Dog kennels occasionally were upholstered on top so that they could be used as stools, see a pair of Louis XV giltwood dog kennels forming tabourets, circa 1765, one stamped E.Nauroy, with a provenance of The Wrightsman Collection, sold Sotheby`s New York, 28th April 2010, lot 121, $86,500. Maame de Pomapdour, one of the most fashionable women of the 1700s, also had similar pieces in her apartments in the Chateau de Saint-Hubert in 1762. Such dog kennels, particularly those in the present form have become exceedingly rare and only a few can be found in public and private collections ( see F.J.B. Watson,, The Wrightsman Collection, vol. I, Greenwich, 1966, pp.98-99).