French Academy armchair, in molded and painted beech, with high flat back, armrests and columnar legs joined by spacer bars; (the armrest supports also originally covered). Stamped by Jean Baptiste Sené, carpenter received as master in 1769. Louis XVI period, circa 1785. H : 107 cm, W : 60 cm This armchair, delivered in 1785 for the Salle de l'Académie (Académie Française) by Jean Baptiste Sené (1848-1803), was painted by Louis François Chatard (circa 1749-1819) and upholstered in blue velvet by Claude François Capin (1727-1789). The room, located inside the Louvre palace at the time, was upholstered in fleur-de-lis fabric and included a large screen from the Manufacture de la Savonnerie and green carpets.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.