19C French Gothic Revival Bench/Stool

PRESENTING A LOVELY 19C French Gothic Revival Bench/Stool or Organ Stool/Bench seat.

Made in rural/provincial France (possibly Brittany) circa 1860-80 and in the Gothic Revival Style.

We are of the opinion that the wood is ‘chestnut’ and not ‘oak’, as one would expect.

The use of ‘chestnut’ makes this even RARER!

Very ‘ecclesiastical’ in design and possibly would have been made for a Church, as the organ player’s stool/bench seat.

Oblong/rectangular in shape.

Unmistakably French, due to the base cross support design and construction, with circular central medallion (very ‘Breton’ in design) and wooden peg inserts for securing the base cross support on the outside of each side.

This bench/stool is ‘nicer’ than most that have appeared on the market, due to it’s very good condition and the beautifully hand-carved decoration, beveled edges and raised arches on both sides. Also, the pair of carved gothic window-esque friezes on both sides, are a lovely touch!

We are confident that this is a 19th Century piece, due to its natural aging, patina and when being re-upholstered it still had it’s original straw and horse (?) hair filling for the seat cushion.

This Bench is part of an EXCEPTIONAL Private Dallas Collection.

This Bench has IMPECCABLE PROVENANCE:

It was purchased by an ancestor of the family (together with several other items also in the Collection), at a French Antique Auction held at the Club Room in the Stoneleigh Court (Hotel), Dallas on Wednesday the 2nd April 1930. (Now The Meridian Hotel).

We have the Original Auction Catalog, which has remained with the Collection, since that Auction. (see photos).

The Auction was titled: ” Works of Art and Furnishings of The Chateau de Turique (Nancy) and The Conde-Rougemont Home (Touraine). The cover of the Catalog also has a ‘seal’ of a Coat of Arms.

The first page of the Catalog States: “Exhibition on Wednesday, April 2nd And Following Days From 10 A.M. to 10 P.M……EXHIBITION at CLUB ROOM, STONELIGH COURT, DALLAS, TEXAS”.

The Second page gives a brief description of the Auction contents and states that ” This Exhibition will be presented by M. Fernand M. Adda of Paris France”

This bench, we believe, was Lot No: 297 and was described in the Auction Catalog as:

297 – CARVED GOTHIC BENCH “Oblong, supported on solid ends. Frieze pierced with Gothic traceries” …. XV Century”

It is noted on the margin by the buyer, that they paid the princely sum of $90 (hammer price not including commission) in 1930, for this piece. Allowing for simple inflation, this would equate to over $1,650 today.

We are of the opinion, that Monsieur Adda, was incorrect in his ‘dating’ of this piece (amongst others in the auction LOL)! He catalogued it as 15th Century, BUT a close examination tells us that it is much later … mid to late 19th Century, in our opinion! It simply does not exhibit the natural aging of a 600 year old wooden piece.

If this were a 15th Century piece, is would be much, much more valuable today, BUT we have appraised it, based upon a 19th Century value for such a quality item.

The stool has been freshly re-upholstered with a beautiful high quality ‘paisley pattern’ silk fabric, with greens, golds, pink and burgundy red elements. It has had a foam cushion inserted under the fabric, to make it more comfortable for daily usage. It is edged with a golden rope trim.

We removed the hair from the seat cushion as it was badly decomposed and dusty but we kept the original straw base.