In the bath-room, marbles, porcelains and muslin were not stinted. The panels were covered with arabesques executed by Pérot after designs of Gillot, and distributed in compartments with much taste. Marine plants mounted in bronze by Caffieri, pagodas, crystals and shells decorated the room. In it were two niches: in one was a silver bathtub; in the other a bed draped in Indian muslin, embroidered and adorned with tassels. This was a lit de repos, and at its side opened the dressing-room. The panels here were painted by Huet, the designs being medallions, garlands of flowers, birds, fruits, and some gallant subject in the style of Boucher. The upper part was finished with a cornice, surmounted by architectural motives that also bordered a surbased calotte containing a mosaic of gold, with bouquets of flowers painted by Bachelier. Natural flowers filled the bowls of porcelain gros bleu, ornamented with gold. Furniture, gros bleu, the wood of which was aventurine, had been finished by Martin. The toilet service was of silver, made by the goldsmith Germain.
The boudoir was, perhaps, the most elaborate of all the rooms. The walls were completely covered with mirrors, whose joinings were masqued and disguised by the trunks of artificial trees massed and arranged so that they formed a quincunx that one might believe real. These trees were loaded with flowers of porcelain and gilded girandoles, which produced, with their rose-coloured and blue candles, a soft and diaphanous light, reflected, but moderated by the transparent gauze that had been spread over the mirrors at the back of the room, where there reigned a voluptuous twilight. In the niche, also covered with mirrors, was a lit de repos enriched with gold braid and accompanied with cushions of all sizes. The parquet was of rosewood. All the carpentry work and carving was painted by Dardillon, who, in painting and gilding the panels, had mingled with the colours some odorous ingredients for the purpose of having them exhale a perfume. This boudoir was thus a natural bouquet, exhaling from its paintings and gilding the combined perfume of violet, jasmin and rose.
One wishing to furnish a room in the Louis XV. style could hardly find a better model than the following that dates from 1730. This had a furnishing of Lyons brocade of jonquil-coloured background embossed with silver flowers, designed by Lallié, and trimmed with braid, lace, and silver fringe. The set consisted of a bed, two fauteuils, two square cushions, six folding-stools, a screen, a folding-screen, wall-hangings, and four portières. The window-curtains were of plain jonquil taffeta, trimmed at the sides and top with silver lace, and at the bottom with a silver fringe. Each curtain was 13 feet, 10 inches long, divided into two parts, each part containing two lengths. The four portières of jonquil and silver brocade were lined with jonquil taffeta. Each was in two parts, each of three lengths (2⅓ ells long), and trimmed like the window-curtains. The wall-hangings were trimmed with silver braid. They comprised 24 lengths, 10⅔ ells around the course, which was 3¼ ells high. The fauteuils were of the typical style with wavy top rail, curving arms with cushions on the elbows and bombé fronts. The frames were richly carved and silvered. These chairs were covered with jonquil brocade and trimmed with silver braid and fringe. The square cushions of the same brocade were trimmed with silver braid and had a silver tassel at each corner. The frames of the folding-stools were carved and gilt; the seats were covered with jonquil brocade. The screens were also covered with the same material, which was tacked on by silver-headed nails upon silver braid. The bed was magnificent. It was 11 feet, 8 inches high, 6 feet long and 5½ feet wide. The draperies were exclusively of the jonquil brocade lined with jonquil taffeta and trimmed with silver braid and silver fringe. The draperies consisted of three inside and four outside valances enriched with embroidery. The latter were gracefully looped in irregular festoons and trimmed with a silver braid. Silver braid arranged in the form of shells fastened the curtains back to the columns. The headboard was embroidered in silver with designs of flowers and peacock feathers in high relief. The Imperial, or canopy, to which were attached the inside valances, was lined with jonquil taffeta and trimmed with silver braid. Four “pommes” in the shape of vases covered with jonquil brocade trimmed with silver, supported by leaves and scrolls of embroidery, held four “bouquets,” containing altogether 120 plumes and four aigrettes.
The furnishings of the bed were luxurious in the extreme. It was supplied with four woollen mattresses covered with some jonquil-hued material, a down bolster covered with white taffeta, a scarlet ratteen blanket of Holland manufacture, another blanket of white wool bordered with jonquil ribbon, a counterpane of Marseille piqué, and a quilted and wadded counterpane of white satin. The outside ornamental counterpane was of jonquil and silver brocade lined with jonquil taffeta and trimmed with silver braid and fringe.
Another suggestion for furnishing may be gained from a description of Madame de Pompadour’s room at the Château de Saint-Hubert, which was furnished in 1762 with a rich damask from India of green and white stripes. The two fauteuils and six chairs with backs were covered with this material, ornamented with a braid of assorted silks. The wood of the frames was carved and painted green and white. A small tabouret, a little footstool, and a fauteuil en confessional[[17]] with its cushion were similarly covered and had also carved frames painted white and green. There was also a fauteuil de toilette made of beech and cane, the cushion and back of which were covered with green and white damask. There was a folding-screen covered with the same damask on both sides and ornamented with silk tassels. The carved frame was also painted green and white. The one portière in the room contained three lengths of the same damask, two ells in length, and was lined with white taffeta and trimmed with silk braid. The toilet-table was covered with a piece of the same damask, 7 feet, 4 inches long, lined with white taffeta and ornamented at each corner with a tassel of green and white silk. The window curtains were in two parts, each part containing two lengths of white silk (gros de Tours), 2½ ells long, trimmed with a braid of green and white silk.
The bed was completely draped in the same damask. It had four columns, headboard and footboard, and “imperial” or canopy (with four outside and four inside valances) four curtains en cantonnières, containing altogether twenty lengths, with four silk cords to attach them; the counterpane, three lower valances, four sheaths for the pillows, and four pommes were trimmed with silk fringe.
This bed stood on castors, and was 4½ feet wide; 6 feet, 3 inches long; and 8 feet high. Three mattresses, a down-bed, two down bolsters, soft woollen blankets bordered with ribbons, a piqué Marseilles counterpane, and a white satin coverlet, were among its comfortable furnishings.
In this room were also two commodes of rosewood veneered and set with mosaics, the tops of violet breccia marble. In front were two drawers. The length was 3½ feet; the width 20 inches; and the height 32 inches. The mounts, trimmings and shoe of the leg were of bronze gilt or moulu. The writing-table was of rosewood inlaid with flowers of violet wood, with flap to let down. This was covered with black leather. On the right, it had a drawer that contained writing-materials. All the mounts and feet were of bronze gilt. This table was 26 inches high, 23 inches long and 15 inches wide.
A night-table was also in this apartment. It was 20 inches long, 13 inches wide and 32 inches high. It was of violet wood and rosewood, the top, a slab of breccia marble from Aleppo, the height 32 inches; the length, 20 inches; and the width 13 inches. The shoes of the feet and the ring-handles were of gilt bronze or moulu.
The room was heated by means of a grate, on each side of which was represented a child holding a bouquet. The depth was 22 inches. The shovel and tongs were gilded.