Part of a set of mahogany salon furniture stamped by François Loret, circa 1815. Loret is a renowned but somewhat obscure name, who comes to mind for only high quality early 19th century seating. A good number of very fine chairs have survived from his workshop, many of which are conserved in the French Ministry of Culture’s National Furniture Reserve, Mobilier National. This set is earlier than many of these government Loret pieces, and we see that its design is fully empire (saber feet, straight backs, sober forms, and refined sculpture evoking the classical tropics).

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