Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette's chairs estimated up to €500,000 at Christie's

A pair of neoclassical armchairs commissioned for the Château de Fontainebleau in 1786, stamped by ébéniste Georges Jacob, will be auctioned by Christie's in Paris as part of the Château de Tournay collections sale. Estimated at €300,000–€500,000, the chairs reflect the refined yet restrained decorative taste of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. They were originally delivered to the King's Cabinet intérieur, a workspace remodeled from Louis XV's former petit appartement. The furniture was confiscated during the French Revolution and sold as national property. The auction includes an exhibition from June 13 to 18, with the decorative arts sale on June 17 and the library sale on June 18. Jean Vittet, Conservateur général du patrimoine at Fontainebleau, notes that the royal couple favored light colors, white silks with floral motifs, and sober lines, avoiding ostentatious expense. The chairs are part of a series of events at Fontainebleau this year, including exhibitions on Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI. Christie's hopes the chairs may return to their original setting, as happened with a painting by Ruggiero de Ruggieri acquired for over €1 million through a Japanese patron.