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Antique French canapé, Antique leather bound books, Antiques, Cast stone fireplace, Ebay Finds, Flea Market Style, French, French Antiques, French curiosities, Garden, Stone fireplace, Straw bee skep, sunburst mirror, Wisteria petit sunburst mirror, Wisteria.com
Antique French canapé
signed Roumaion
c. 1780
The canapé was missing its left arm, half of a back leg,
the right arm was partially detached…
Arriving from Paris, it had virtually been destroyed by Customs,
and languished for years in the store’s storage room…
Found it lying on its back on the furniture showroom floor,
bargained it down to $400, and with no idea where it
would go, it was in my car with the Detroit 93 Saint-Ouen
Déménagements Transports tag still attached to a leg…
It wasn’t until I got home that I discovered that it was signed…
as was required by all furniture work in pre 1790 Paris..
This name compelled me to have a new arm and back leg carved…
and stopped all thoughts of refinishing it with a light gray
wash. The V stumped me, then found out it was how they did U’s.
Here is another piece made by Roumaion…
CANAPE en bois naturel mouluré et sculpté de fleurettes.
Epoque Louis XV. Porte une estampille ROUMAION
Found through Drouot documentation
Here’s the new arm…absent 230 years…
It amazes me to think of what Roumaion’s canapé
experienced as it moved its way through history …
If you’re considering whether you want to invest in a broken
antique…woodwork and re-glueing cost @ $700, staining and
distressing to match a few hundred more. Luckily the caning
was nearly perfect..a colored fixative was applied to the few
weak spots. Complete re-caning is one of the most expensive
parts of a restoration.
Trouvais 
Hello,
What a nice story, that what i like also about antiques. The story behind. Shopping is easy, but when you put time and work in an object it means much more.
Thanks for sharing.
David
It is a very elegant ,wonderful canapé Trish!
Greet
Hi Greet. I usually prefer painted finishes …but I’m waiting for someone to tell me that I wouldn’t devalue it if I bleached it and rubbed it blue/gray. I was originally going to take the other arm off, prop the 1/2 leg up in back, and call it a day, but my son (then 16) advised me it would not be structurally sound!
Oh how I would love to “find” a starburst mirror such as this…gorgeous! Tracey xx
Greet from Belgian Peart sent me over here and I am so glad she did. What a terrible thing to treat a wonderful piece so badly as to break it. Your canape is so very beautiful now. You have given it a new lease on life. You have some gorgeous images on your blog, I will come back, again. Hugs, Cindy S.
Hi Trish,
What a beautiful antique French canape, love it and how wonderful that it has been signed.
I love the thought that it is 230 years old and you wonder the homes where is has been and who has sat on it, the history of a piece like this would be interesting.
Shame that customs do not take the same care with precious things as you or I would.
Happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
LOVE the starburst mirror too!!!
What a great found! Beautiful canape! and great
job on restoring it.
You’ve restored her beautifully and the mirror is gorgeous too
The star burst mirror, from Wisteria.com, comes in dark wood…I brushed on gold metallic paint (used both light and dark gold tones) with an artist’s paint brush. Looks more antique if you leave some of the wood showing through. Wisteria occasionally puts the mirror on sale so keep an eye on it.
For a piece like this by all means consult an expert. But even if they tell you that it would devalue it to alter the finish, consider your priorities. If you don’t think that you will be reselling it then why not refinish it in a way that will give you years of enjoyment. You made a great find and you should enjoy it the way you want to.
~Jermaine~
what styling! that’s what I am enjoying, but you can’t change a signed piece like this, can you????
I am so loving that mantel too!!
you have some realy nie post and interesting links , thanks for that too… about my white floor , it is pretty new and doesn’t get so dirty because it is in a bedroom… I am planning to add it as well to a little office space I am plannning to make next weeks (or months haha we see) but I do know that you can add a plastic rug under your chair, you still see the floor and no marks.. they are especially made for chairs and I think Ikea will sell them.. good luck with your choice and a good sunday, desiree
I love stories like this about antiques. There is always the possibility of a surprise. I really enjoy your posts. The images are gorgeous… I look forward to more!
re-caning is very very expensive ! I can’t believe what you have found. YOU have the best eye ever. I guess , french antiques dealer have to come to the states ” to chiner ” … WHat a wonderful find
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Your find is amazing, simply wonderful as is your blog! Monica
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