From the estate of heirs to Adolphus Busch and the Brookings family.Exceptional pair of French children's bergere chairs, early 20th century. Foliate carved crests over the allover padded diminutive forms with down filled cushions, foliate carved front rails and cabriole front legs.31 x 23 1/2 in. (78.74 x 59.69 cm.); seats: 16 in. (40.64 cm.)These chairs belonged to Lee Renfrew Wallace and her husband Mahlon Brookings Wallace III, who lived an extremely happy and luxurious life filled with world travels, safaris, collecting, and philanthropy. From backgrounds in race-horse breeding and championship cattle ranching, the socialite couple paid homage to the St. Louis area community in a variety of ways. He was a great-grandson of beer baron Adolphus Busch. His great-grandmother's brother was Robert Brookings, founder of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. He also was descended from the earliest French colonists of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri. See
