Fouquet had an alcove hung with crimson satin enriched with gold embroidery. At President Tubeuf’s the hangings of the alcove were ornamented with bands of black velvet alternating with bands of English tapestry. Molière’s was hung with red taffeta garnished with fringe and tassels of aurora silk.
Madame de Maintenon’s apartments at Versailles, in 1708, consisted of the first antechamber, the second antechamber, the chamber, the “garde-robe” behind the bed, the “grand cabinet upon the arcade,” and “garde-robe en suite.”
The walls of the first antechamber were hung with red damask of small pattern trimmed with Venetian brocatelle of white background ornamented with red and green branches and flowers of various colours. These same materials filled the space over the chimney-piece. Twelve chairs with backs of turned walnut wood were covered with tapestry on which birds figured. The couch was covered with the same material and was furnished with a pavilion of red serge. A small table was covered by a green cloth trimmed with green silk fringe. The window curtain was white cotton.
The second antechamber was hung with crimson damask, ornamented with gold braid and gold fringe. The portières of the same, and lined with red taffeta, were 2½ ells long, and comprised four lengths each. The seats were six fauteuils, six large folding-stools and two small folding-stools. The frames were painted red picked out with gold. The two little stools were upholstered in red velvet garnished with gold and silver fringe. The other seats were covered with red damask, ornamented with gold fringe. The couch in this room was covered with crimson damask, trimmed with gold braid and fringe, and overhung by a pavilion of red serge. A pine desk was covered with a piece of red damask, trimmed with gold braid and fringe. The one window curtain consisted of four lengths of red taffeta (3 ells long), bordered with a narrow gold braid.
PLATE XVI
The chamber was hung with twenty-five lengths of gold and green damask, and twenty-four lengths of crimson damask of a large pattern (the length being 2½ ells). These hangings were trimmed all around and on the seams with gold braid. The bed was composed of three outside valances, two bonnes grâces, two cantonnières, three valances on the frame of the bed, three valances on the courtepointe, and four pommes. All the interior hangings were gold and green, and all the outside ones were of crimson damask. The courtepointe was crimson damask. These draperies were ornamented with a wide gold braid and gold fringe. The pommes supported four bunches of white feathers with aigrettes. The three window curtains, each 11 feet long, contained three lengths each of crimson taffeta, trimmed with gold fringe. There were other hangings in this room: two portières, two alcove curtains, and the interior draperies of the niche. The portières were made of two lengths of gold and green damask and one of red damask, trimmed with gold braid. One was lined with red taffeta, the other with green taffeta. The two alcove curtains[[13]] were 3¼ ells long, each one being made of two lengths of gold and green damask, and two lengths of crimson damask. This large room contained three fauteuils, twelve folding-stools, four lounges, a lit de repos, a chaise d’affaires of crimson velvet, two tables, two little marquetry desks, a screen, a writing-table, mirror and chandelier. The seats were all covered with red damask, bordered by a band of gold and green damask, and finished with a narrow gold braid and fringe. The lit de repos, 6 feet long by 2 feet, 4 inches wide, was covered with the same damasks as well as its four pillows. The latter were finished with gold braid, fringe, and tassels at each corner. Another lit de repos stood in the niche. The tables 4 feet long by 4 feet, 4 inches wide, were of pine with walnut feet. Their covers were made of the two damasks already described (mi-party), the top being of red velvet. These cloths were nailed to the table, and trailed on the floor. They were ornamented with gold braid and fringe. The screen consisted of five leaves 3½ feet high. Three of its leaves were of gold and green damask, and two of red damask. Gold braid brightened it. The writing-table was of violet-wood, 4 feet, 8 inches long by 20 inches wide. Over it was a green velvet cover, edged with gold. The little desks of marqueterie d’étain were probably Boulle’s. They were 2 feet 9½ inches long, and 1 foot 9 inches wide. Each one contained four drawers and a door in the front, behind which were three interior drawers, and stood upon eight termed pillars of marquetry the capitals and bases of which were of silvered wood. The feet were pineapples silvered. These were covered with a carpet of green taffetas, lined with serge.
The niche[[14]] was of oak 5 feet, 10 inches long by 2 feet, 10 inches wide and 8½ feet high. It was hung inside with four lengths of red damask and three lengths of the gold and green damask already described, the seams being covered with narrow gold braid. The outside was hung with three lengths of gold and green damask and two lengths of red damask, the seams hidden by gold braid.
The lit de repos placed lengthwise in the niche was 5½ feet long and 2½ feet wide, therefore nearly filling up the niche. It was covered with a square of green taffeta, to which were attached three valances of gold and green damask ornamented with gold braid and fringe. The two pillows and bolsters were covered with the same damask, ornamented with gold braid, fringe and tassels. A coverlet, crimson satin on one side and green satin on the other, was invitingly ready for the lounger.
The Garde-robe behind the bed was hung with crimson damask of a small pattern, trimmed with gold braid. The portière was of the same. Here stood a tabouret covered with red velvet ornamented with gold and silver fringe.