Sep 9, 2025 10:00 EST
The Collection of Lucille Coleman
15
Pair of Royal Louis XVI Giltwood Chaises en Cabriolet
The Collection of Lucille Coleman
Circa 1786
Each padded back and squab-cushion within a carved and molded frame with husk-trails and spirally twisting foliage, on tapering stop-fluted legs, covered in a gold and blue silk velvet medallion fabric, stamped to the inside rail with the Fontainebleau inventory mark of an F surmounted by a coronet and No. 587, and 4.
Height 35 inches (89 cm), width 19 inches (48 cm), depth 18 inches (46 cm); height of seat 15 3/4 inches (40 cm).
Provenance: Anonymous sale, Sotheby's, New York, 5 November 1998, lot 354.
Sold for $8,960
Estimated at $4,000 - $6,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
The Collection of Lucille Coleman
Circa 1786
Each padded back and squab-cushion within a carved and molded frame with husk-trails and spirally twisting foliage, on tapering stop-fluted legs, covered in a gold and blue silk velvet medallion fabric, stamped to the inside rail with the Fontainebleau inventory mark of an F surmounted by a coronet and No. 587, and 4.
Height 35 inches (89 cm), width 19 inches (48 cm), depth 18 inches (46 cm); height of seat 15 3/4 inches (40 cm).
Provenance: Anonymous sale, Sotheby's, New York, 5 November 1998, lot 354.
Notes:An almost identical pair attributed to Georges Jacob has been delivered in 1786 for the cabinet à la Poudre of Louis XVI at château de Fontainebleau, and was sold at Sotheby's, Paris, 9 November, 2012, lot 123.
Created in 1785-1786 by Pierre Rousseau as part of Louis XVI's private apartments at Fontainebleau, the cabinet à la Poudre was later transformed into Napoleon's chamber. The Antwerp painter Piat-Joseph Sauvage executed the overdoor paintings while Pierre-Joseph Laplace provided the carved decoration. Its furnishing included two commodes by Gilles Joubert from Marie-Antoinette's Salon des Nobles at Versailles, and a pair of consoles by Guillaume Beneman (1786). Completing the decor were also amongst three pairs of gilt-bronze wall-lights, a powder chair, a pair of fire dogs and a pendulum clock, forming one of the most refined ensembles of the late eighteenth century.
Re-gilded, rubbing and losses to gilding, old marks and scratches; please note that Doyle does not guarantee the condition of upholstery or overupholstered furniture frames.
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
Auction: The Collection of Lucille Coleman, Sep 9, 2025
-
DOYLE Achieves Strong Results for The Collection of Lucille Coleman
-
September 9, 2025 Auction Showcased Important Furniture & Decorative Arts
-
Additional Property from the Collection Will Be Offered in Sales Through the Fall Season
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's auction of important furniture and decorative arts from The Collection of Lucille Coleman on September 9, 2025 attracted spirited bidding from both sides of the Atlantic. The sale marked the first in a series of auctions that will showcase the exceptional taste of the esteemed New York collector and philanthropist celebrated for her generosity, style, and civic engagement.
Auction Highlights
Highlighting the September 9 sale was a Russian silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel partial tea service by Gustav Klingert, dated 1892, that surpassed its $15,000-25,000 estimate to achieve an impressive $30,720. Gustav Klingert was a prominent silversmith and enameler working in Moscow prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Much of Klingert’s work, which was made for export, was retailed by Tiffany & Co. in New York and was popular with American buyers. Such large sets of matching tea glass holders rarely appear on the auction market.
Among the standout furniture offerings was a circa 1760 Louis XV ormolu-mounted tulipwood, kingwood, and amaranth parquetry secrétaire à abattant by Jacques van Oostenrijk, called Dautriche, that realized $15,360. The Dutch-born ébéniste settled in Paris around 1743 and became renowned for his exquisitely crafted marquetry, gaining his maîtrise in 1765.
Lucille Coleman
Lucille Coleman was a gracious presence in New York’s philanthropic and cultural circles. Known for her exceptional taste and quiet generosity, she brought elegance to every endeavor—from her thoughtful collecting to her steadfast support of charitable organizations. Among her many philanthropic commitments, she maintained a decades-long relationship with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, which honored her contributions by naming a residential tower on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Her collection reflects a life dedicated to beauty, legacy, and meaningful engagement with the world around her.
Further auctions will highlight the breadth of her interests, including a remarkable group of Asian Works of Art. Chief among them is a rare and important ensemble of Japanese Meiji figural bronzes crafted by leading workshops of the period—pieces originally intended to awe Western audiences with their romantic vision of Japanese culture. Additional highlights include two gilt-bronze seated figures of Amitayus and a monumental Japanese bronze figure of an ascetic atop a lion dog, each exemplifying the extraordinary artistry and symbolism of the region.
Mrs. Coleman’s passion for European Modernism is also reflected in her collection of paintings by artists such as Louis Valtat, Bernard Buffet, Gustave Loiseau, and Maurice de Vlaminck. These works—ranging from bold Fauvist compositions to lyrical post-Impressionist landscapes—underscore her keen eye for color, form, and expressive beauty.
Through its expert stewardship of single-owner collections, DOYLE will present Mrs. Coleman’s legacy to a broad collecting audience while honoring her commitment to excellence, connoisseurship, and philanthropy.
Upcoming Auctions
In addition to the single-owner sale on September 9, property from The Collection will also be featured in select sales this Fall:
Asian Works of Art – September 16-17, 2025
Jewelry Online – September 15, 2025
Fine Jewelry & Luxury Handbags – September 18, 2025
Prints & Multiples – October 23, 2025
Important European & American Art – November 12, 2025
Rare Books, Autographs & Maps – November 25, 2025
Fine Art: 19th Century & Early Modernism – December 9, 2025
