PAIR LOUIS XVI STYLE BERGERES,19th century, gilt-wood. Ribbon-molded surround with rosette-centered scrolling handholds above stop-fluted and acanthus-carved supports; rectangular back and similar loose seat cushion; water-leaf and ribbon enrichments; fluted legs headed by rosette tablets - 38 in. x 30 in. x 22 1/2 in. Estimate $800-1,200
PROVENANCE: Alice Pike Barney Collection. To be sold for the benefit of the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, Fredericksburg, VA.
These chairs, once belonging to the Alice Pike Barney Collection, were given to the James Monroe Museum where they were well maintained. These chairs have museum protection caps--easily removable, which protects the chairs from common sources of damage (vacuum cleaners, wet mops, and the like). As for condition, one chair was professionally repaired on the proper left stile and today has minor wood loss to the upper crest. The other chair has long since lost its rosette corner blocks on the rear legs.
