Armchair (fauteuil en cabriolet) (one of a pair) (part of a set) 1780 - 1790

This armchair was made by Jean-Baptiste-Bernard Demay, who was active in Paris in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It's crafted primarily from carved and gilded wood, with silk upholstery. The cabriolet form, with its curved back, reflects the Neoclassical style then in vogue, but the real story here is about the skilled labor involved. The chair embodies a complex division of labor: one specialist for the wooden frame, another for carving the intricate details, a gilder to apply the delicate gold leaf, and finally, an upholsterer to add the luxurious silk covering. Each of these trades had its own guild structure, reflecting a highly organized system of production, and the making of such a chair involved a substantial investment of time and expertise. Ultimately, understanding this armchair as an object of craft helps us appreciate the social and economic context in which it was made, challenging any separation between artistry and the realities of labor.