A pair of Napoleon III period armchairs from France c.1870

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A pair of Napoleon III period armchairs from France c.1870

About the Item

A pair of striking Napoleon III period armchairs from France c.1870 with an ebonized finish now freshly upholstered in Belgian linen. Please take a moment to cast an eye over the superb silhouette these chairs present that has a definite sculptural impact. The tall backs have a rectangular shape and are flanked by a pair of turned columns that are actually free standing and contained within a frame work at the top and bottom of each back. Please note that the spindle design in the middle of each column spiral away in opposite directions to create a true framing effect. This subtle difference is important because it means the chairs were not manufactured generically but were actually a well thought out design. The tall back frame sides continue to the top of each back leg where the shape changes to a square leg with a tapered profile known as a "sabre" leg that first appeared during the Empire period (1804-1820). The arms on each chair are placed at a perpendicular angle to the back and have a large upholstered cushion on the arm so it is a comfortable area to rest an elbow, arm and hand when seated. It is interesting to notice that the cushion has been moulded into a box shape to follow the architectural feel of the overall chairs. Each of the wooden arms terminates in a large sphere that is pleasing to grasp when sitting down or standing from the chair and has a turned profile both in front of and behind the arm cushion that relates to the chair back frames. Because the arms are placed above the outer edge of the seat they are connected by another turned section of timber that has been placed at a slight angle that moves away from the seat to ensure the widest possible area to accommodate a seated person. The upholstery completely surrounds all of the ebonized wood that makes up the frame and the handsome grey Belgian linen offers an appealing contrast to the black finish. The base of the chair has a vertical apron on all four sides of the seat that meets nicely with the sabre legs on the back of the chair. This apron also stands completely upon the pair of turned front legs at the front of the chairs whose distinctive bobbin profile is familiar from centuries of wood working. The visual strength of these chairs comes from the powerful contrast between the shape of the frame, the choice of the finish with the beautiful sleekness of the ebonized surface chosen to resemble the costly ebony wood imported from the tropics and the simplicity of the linen upholstery. These chairs were meant to be able to float within an interior space and as such it was important that they have a wonderful appearance from any direction. The scale was quite important as well as by this time in the nineteenth century the idea of personal comfort when seated was firmly entrenched. These chairs are wonderfully capacious and invite remaining seated for enjoyable conversations at home.

Dimensions:
Height: 44 in (111.76 cm)Width: 27 in (68.58 cm)Depth: 27 in (68.58 cm)
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c. 1870
Condition:
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: EEJ3861stDibs: U1205148668692