Du Roi Chaise

The early work of André Arbus was much lauded as a new neoclassical vocabulary for a new world. Visually attenuated, this modern evolution of the recamier, or daybed, serves as a symbol of overdue luxury in post-war France. While the designer was commissioned to rework several national palaces after the war, the Du Roi Chaise was a longtime fixture in the King's Bedroom at the Palais de l'Élysée, home of the President of the French Republic. Circa 1946.

A rolled top contrasts with a welted, tightly upholstered back and seat. A hardwood base holds the seat. The frame itself is cast bronze, with a back support hinting at French Directoire, over tapered, asymmetrically placed legs.

Width: 26.5 inches
Depth: 65 inches
Height: 35 inches