Armchair after 1756

These armchairs were made in France by Jean-Baptiste Lebas, who became a master craftsman in 1756. These pieces speak to the height of luxurious living in the period. Consider the social conditions in which such finely wrought objects were made. In pre-revolutionary France, guild systems carefully regulated who could produce what, ensuring quality but also limiting access. The patronage of wealthy elites, like the court at Versailles, drove demand for lavish furnishings. The curvaceous lines, gilded surfaces, and rich upholstery reflect the Rococo style popular among the aristocracy. These armchairs were essentially stage props in the theater of aristocratic life, designed to project an image of refinement and power. To fully appreciate these armchairs, we can consult period inventories, guild records, and studies of court life. Art history in this context becomes social history, revealing the complex interplay of craft, commerce, and class in 18th-century France.