A French Empire Sleigh Sofa

A French Empire style 'Meridienne' sleigh sofa, each of its elegantly curved ends carved with swan head finials, standing on turned and tapering Jacob design Neoclassical legs. Paris, circa 1930. Please note: the swan motif is a symbol of Josephine Bonaparte. It refers to the black swans that the navigator Nicolas Baudin (1754-1803) brought back to France from South Australia, and which Josephine Bonaparte seized for her 'Château de Malmaison'.