Bed. Wood (mahogany and rosewood), gilded bronze, metal. QUIGNON FILS. Paris, France, towards the last third of the 19th century. Signed on frame. Bed frame with four legs made of different woods, among which mahogany stands out, and decorated with mercury-gilded bronze applications. On four truncated conical legs with bronze elements are the two side crossbars (enhanced with a bronze wave border and a lower finish with plant motifs), the footboard and the headboard. The front of the feet, on the outside, has a decoration that combines wood of different tone and grain with elements in gilded bronze: the same waves mentioned before, and a symmetrical composition with two naked female figures (with their lower part of plant motifs making scrolls) holding an architectural cup with flowers; around it, garlands, birds, and laurel branches, with a geometric frame on the outside, and two forms of twisted columns with plant elements on the sides; This part is finished off with a frieze of circular elements with two dice on the sides (a combination also present in the headboard). This concentrates the decoration at the top, as usual: two columns on the sides, topped by vases; in the center, a symmetrical composition with a vase between scrolls, flowers, torches, etc.; Here, a pompadour stands out with two seated semi-naked putti, holding a garland of flowers and flanking a carved dark wooden shield, crowned and with two intertwined letters (M and L). The crown presented is the insignia or headdress representative of the noble title of marquis. The manufacturer's mark (or signature) is located in the center of the lower area of the headboard. On it you can read “Médalle d'Or 1878 / Quignon Fils / Sculpteur ebeniste / Paris / 83, Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 83”. Frédéric Gustave Quignon, son of Napoléon Quignon, was born in Paris on November 7, 1843. He worked with his father, becoming a partner in the company in 1872 and then his successor in 1874. At the Universal Exposition of 1878 he won the medal of gold (event that is reflected in the brand of this piece). They were especially known and appreciated for the carvings and gilded bronzes on their furniture, making pieces for the Palace of Fointainebleau in 1860 and for the Tuileries in 1861, in addition to their pieces inspired by Chinese furniture.
· Size: 174x225x169 cms. int: 161x208 cns
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