A Louis XV beechwood revolving desk armchair, circa 1750, attributed to Etienne Meunier

This elegant office armchair is characteristic of the Louis XVI period, made of carved wood, with a cane seat, a cane back and upholstered with a cushion for the user's comfort. Usually the legs are offset to allow the person to sit facing the desk, with their legs on either side of the central leg. Our armchair is unique in that its seat rotates, allowing the user to turn towards the ends of the desk without leaving their seat. This innovation appeared in the middle of the reign of Louis XV and developed under Louis XVI. For other examples of swivel chairs, see Sotheby's Paris sale, 28 May-4 June 2020, lot 184 (white lacquered wooden chair), or a very beautiful model with a lyre-shaped backrest stamped by Georges Jacob, Sotheby's London, 3 May 2012, lot 53.

Etienne Meunier is a renowned carpenter who works for merchants such as Migeon and Igou. He produces many beautifully-crafted office armchairs. The office armchair is his specialty, and he may well be one of its inventors. A number of his stamped office armchairs are preserved in various museums around the world, including the Louvre in Paris, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The quality of our armchair allows us to attribute it to his work.