A Roman rococo carved giltwood and painted fauteuil, circa 1770

upholstered with silk brocade (some wear); traces of polychrome paint

Franco di Castro Gallery, Rome

RELATED LITERATURE 

D. Di Castro, Il Palazzo Pallavicini Rospigliosi, Rome, 1999
A. González-Palacios, Arredi e ornamenti alla corte di Roma, Milan, 2004
G. Lizzani, Il mobile romano, Milan, 1970

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate. There are the inevitable dents, marks and scratches due to age and use. The painting and the gilding are rubbed and tarnished revealing the white gesso and the red bowl underneath. There are restorations to the lower part of both armrests with tiny wooden pieces. The seatrail has been reinforced with four wooden blocks. There are old woodworms traces. The silk is torn to the armrests and to the seat. There are some stains The construction is firm. Impressive and elegant armchair attributed to Nicola Carletti, one of the most important sculptor of the Roman Rococo era.
"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."

This very fine carved fauteuil has its place within one of the finest groups of Roman rococo furniture realised by one of the city's most accomplished carvers, Nicola Carletti, who worked for princely and aristocratic families such as the Corsini, the Chigi, and the Doria Pamphilij.

The elegant and fluid lines of this chair are enhanced by naturalistically carved foliate trails. Its sophisticated asymmetry is fully rococo and, together with the variation between rocaille and plain surfaces, visible for instance on the seat frieze, bears witness to Carletti's mastery of the style and increased independence from Rome's powerful Baroque legacy. 

Cardinal Flavio II Chigi (1711-1771) is known to have commissioned at least two sets of chairs for his suburban villa in 1768-70, when Carletti was paid for his services. In February 1768 he delivered eighteen chairs with "cartelle e folie e pelli e in molti lochi fattoci le sue scappatine di fronte frappate e tutte centinate", whilst the second delivery comprised six chairs similarly carved but "traforate" (pierced), of which one is now at Palazzo Doria-Pamphilij.

An identical fauteuil from the same suite is in a private aristocratic collection, and attributed to Carletti (fig. 1; cf. Lizzani, op. cit., p. 105); another, with carved and pierced frame, probably from the second batch of seat furniture, is illustrated in Palacios, op. cit., p. 204, as by Carletti. Finally, the attribution to Carletti is further supported by the resemblances between the exquisite carving found on the present fauteuil and that of the pair of banquettes offered here as lot 11.