DUCHESS IN A BOAT FROM THE LOUIS XV PERIOD Attributed to Jean-Baptiste Tilliard In moulded and carved beech, the back decorated in the centre with an asymmetrical cartouche flanked by foliate scrolls, resting on cambered legs surmounted by foliate cabochons; reinforcements at the waist. H. 101 cm (39 ¾ in.) l. 197 cm (77 ½ in.) A Louis XV carved beechwood caned duchesse en bateau, attributed to Jean Baptiste Tilliard Although not stamped, this remarkable duchesse en bateau is closely related to the work of Jean Baptiste I Tilliard (1686-1766), one of the most important Parisian joiners active in the first half of the 18th century. The carved heart motif inscribed in a cartouche that decorates the waistband and the upper part of the legs of our duchesse could be Tilliard's signature; it is found with slight variations on a large number of chairs made by this famous joiner, such as : - A pair of armchairs sold at Christie's Paris on 19 December 2007, lot 531. - A pair of attributed armchairs sold at Christie's London, 24 October 2013, lot 700. - A suite of four armchairs à la reine, from the former Elie and Inna Nahmias collection, sold at Christie's Paris, 6 November 2014, lot 227. - A shepherdess sold at Christie's Paris, 25 April 2018, lot 65. - A pair of frame armchairs sold at Maître Ader, Paris, on 2 April 1974 and illustrated in G.B.Pallot, L'Art du Siège au XVIIIe siècle, A.C.R. Gismondi Editeurs, 1987, p.139.