GALLERY
A LOUIS XVI ALCOVE BED
SOLD
A LOUIS XVI ALCOVE BED
MAKING PART OF THE FURNITURE OF THE COMPIÈGNE PALACE AND THE VERSAILLES PETITES ÉCURIES
SOLD
Object N° 2337

Alcove bed in grey-green polychrome beech wood, fluted uprights, rounded corners of the visible side, lag screw system.

Louis XVI period.

Bears the inventory marks of the Château de Compiègne: in fire "CP crowned", and in stencil "C 9180", as well as a stenciled inventory mark of the Petites écuries of Versailles partly illegible "VPE 4... ".

White fabric upholstery redone.

H. 87,5 x W. 190 x D. 85,5 cm.

Provenance

- Petites écuries of the Palace of Versailles.

- Château de Compiègne, Ministers' wing, 2nd floor, telegraph operator's room.

- Sold by the French State Estates in 1885.

- European private collection.

History

The inventory number of the Château de Compiègne stencilled is that of 1855, under Napoleon III. The bed was then in accommodation 153 reserved for the telegraph operator, located on the 2nd floor in the ministers' corridor. This bed is described as such: "9180 - a berth in painted beech wood, square legs and uprights, the said berth with strapped bottom & roller casters. Width 0.97 c." It is indicated as sold in 1885.

The CP crowned fire mark is not the one generally found on the furniture that was in the castle in the first half of the 19th century. This probably dates from the Second Empire (source: Etienne Guibert, curator at Compiègne).

Our bed also bears an inventory mark of the Petites écuries du château de Versailles, “VPE 4…”, which probably dates from an earlier period, probably from the Restauration or the July Monarchy.

The stables of the Palace of Versailles were built between 1679 and 1682 by Jules-Hardouin Mansart, architect to King Louis XIV. Compared to the castle itself, the stables, Small and Large, are located symmetrically on the other side of the Place d'armes. Their history linked to that of the castle was particularly eventful, they underwent during the 19th century multiple assignments which often did not correspond in any way to their original character.