The art of the Tilliards

This pair of cabriolet armchairs is a characteristic work of the Tilliard dynasty, one of the most important and influential families of Parisian chair-makers of the 18th century. Stamped TILLIARD, the armchairs are attributable to Jean-Baptiste Tilliard, known as Jean-Baptiste I (1686–1766), whose production is widely regarded as among the finest expressions of Louis XV seating furniture.

The Tilliard workshop occupied a central position in the artistic life of Paris under Louis XV. Closely connected to the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne and working for both royal and aristocratic patrons, Jean-Baptiste Tilliard developed a refined language distinguished by the purity of its lines, the precision of its carving and the exceptional fluidity of its silhouettes. His work reflects a mature understanding of Rocaille ornament, tempered by a growing concern for balance and legibility that would come to define the so-called Transition style.



A tempered rocaille taste

This pair of armchairs illustrates that moment of stylistic inflection. While the overall structure remains firmly rooted in the Louis XV vocabulary—with cabriole legs, continuous curves and sculptural armrests—the ornamentation reveals a notable softening and regularization of forms. Shell motifs, floral branches and acanthus leaves are no longer treated with the exuberant asymmetry of the early Rocaille period, but are instead distributed in a more measured and symmetrical manner. The carving follows the moldings with remarkable discipline, emphasizing the architecture of the seat rather than overwhelming it.

The presence of characteristic motifs associated with the Tilliard workshop, notably the heart-shaped cartouche placed on the legs and on the seat rail, further reinforces the attribution. Although not exclusive to the family, this motif appears so consistently in Tilliard’s production that it functions almost as a secondary signature, particularly on works that combine elegance with restraint. Comparable armchairs by Jean-Baptiste Tilliard are preserved in major museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (inv. 2019.283.15), where closely related examples demonstrate the same balance between sculptural richness and formal clarity.



Through their refined carving, harmonious proportions and controlled ornament, this pair of cabriolet armchairs exemplifies the highest level of Parisian seat-making around 1750. They offer a compelling illustration of the late rocaille aesthetic as understood by one of its most accomplished protagonists, and of the Tilliard workshop’s ability to reconcile innovation with continuity in the evolution of 18th-century French decorative arts.