MGM "Gigi" Furniture Pieces in 1956's "The Swan"

Perhaps I should stop calling this furniture set the "Gigi" furniture, because it's appeared in various movies going back at least as far as 1939's "Ninotchka." };-)

ASSOCIATED CW S&T POST:

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/319228-mgm-giltwood-louis-xvi-style-furniture-s

"The Swan" is the film in which I've found the most set pieces. Unless the behind the scene film personnel (e.g., film editors, set dressers) were not merely talented but tricky, I think this film shows not only the gorgeous medallion-back canapé en corbeille (basket-style sofa), but six matching fauteuil chairs.

Who made this beautiful furniture? I don't know.

I was hoping that the notes in the 1970 MGM auction catalog might reveal the answer, but no joy so far.

How did MGM acquire it?

One of my pet theories has been that MGM acquired it from Europeans who were fleeing the chaos of the Third Reich and/or WWII. This theory is somewhat supported by a reminiscence from actress Ann Rutherford who stated in an interview that for a two year period prior to the filming of 1940's "Pride and Prejudice," the studio's art department had been sending interior decorators to Europe to acquire vintage/antique furniture:

In this TCM Word of Mouth from 2000, actress Ann Rutherford discusses the set design in the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ('40)

https://twitter.com/tcm/status/1044927062992015361

Pinning down those two years during which MGM art department interior decorators scoured Europe for period furnishings is a bit problematical, because while MGM's "Pride and Prejudice" was released in 1940, the production ran into a number of problems which significantly delayed it:

*snip*

This film was set to begin filming in 1936 (two years prior to Gone with the Wind) with Norma Shearer and Clark Gable in the lead roles of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy under the direction of Irving Thalberg. Thalberg died unexpectedly in September of 1936, so the film was shelved until a new director could be found. Then in August 1939, MGM tapped George Cukor to direct with Robert Donat replacing Clark Gable and to film in Europe. Because of WWII, the MGM studios in England had to be shut down in September 1939, so filming then moved to the US. Cukor was replaced by Robert Z. Leonard due to scheduling issues. Leonard decided upon Greer Garson & Laurence Oliver to star (and for that, we are ever so thankful).

*snip*

https://janelied.wordpress.com/2019/03/28/pride-prejudice-1940-film-adaptation/

Also, while there are any number of handsome furnishings in MGM's 1940 version of "Pride and Prejudice," none of the "Gigi" furniture set pieces are seen.

However, it still seems possible to me that the "Gigi" furniture was acquired during that two year shopping trip.

Despite "The Swan" being the current record holder as the film with the most "Gigi" furniture set pieces in it, there is only one still at IMDB that shows one of the pieces, a chair:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049815/mediaviewer/rm90065152/

It's not a still from a scene in the film, but rather a publicity still, and most of the chair is occluded by Grace Kelly. However, it's still a valuable image, because it offers a rare closeup glimpse of two of the chair's legs.

CW S&T POST IMAGE CREDITS:

All images in this post are low-tech captures from a Turner Classic Movies airing of "The Swan."

The first image shows the couch in between Grace Kelly and Louis Jourdan.

The second image shows four of the matching chairs: two at either end of the buffet table flanked by servants, one seating Grace Kelly, and one in front of a green marble column.

The third image shows another matching chair in front of the other green marble column in the room.

The fourth image shows another matching chair near a window.