LOUIS MAJORELLE | “Fougères” Trumeau

with painted panel by Jacques Majorelle

Macklowe Gallery, New York
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 1977

Alastair Duncan, Louis Majorelle: Master of Art Nouveau Design, London, 1991, pp. 112 and 168 (for a related Majorelle trumeau)
Alastair Duncan, The Paris Salons 1895-1914, Volume III: Furniture, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1996, p. 409 (for the above example)
Alastair Duncan, Louis C. Tiffany: The Garden Museum Collection, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2004, p. 621 (for a "Fougères" fire screen with related carved decoration)

Overall in very good original condition consistent with age. The gilt frame presents with minor scattered rubbing, nicks and chips to the gilding throughout, concentrated to the edges as partially visible in the printed and online catalogs. The original mirror with some minor flaking and losses to the mirrored surface and scattered fine surface scratches as visible in the catalogue illustration. The painted panel is executed on a roughly textured, open grain panel. The painting with a small area of loss in the lower right corner, a few scattered pinpoint dots of discoloration. The paint with a small vertical crack at approximately one-third in from the right edge. With barely perceptible craquelure and minor scratches to the left side. With minor scattered dents and surface irregularities throughout. A beautiful example of French Art Nouveau with very good provenance.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Sotheby's would like to thank Roselyn Bouvier for her assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.