Empire period pair painted and gilded arm chairs from France c.1810

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About the Item

A pair of Empire period painted and gilded arm chairs from France c.1810 featuring swan heads with exceptional carving. These armchairs or "fauteuils" as they are known in French exhibit the characteristics made famous during the reign of Napoleon I, Emperor of France. Please look especially at the realism of the carved swans visible from every direction when these chairs are viewed as well as when seated. Swans have an interesting history in relationship to the aristocracy as for centuries their ownership, breeding and possession was restricted to the ruling class. Swans were known for their beautiful and noble demeanor but also as being particularly aggressive when crossed (attributes associated with Kings as well). These particular swans carved to fit these chairs are very well articulated with their arching necks folded over their bodies while the wings are placed in an elongated manner to sweep back and support the horizontal left and right arm. Using a bird in this way had never been seen before and the addition of a gilded reflective finish against the luminous quality of the paint made and makes a striking visual impression. The square back of each chair has a slight backward arch to the rake of the back adding a comfort level new to the early nineteenth century in seating furniture while the actual frame is distinguished by a series of raised symmetrical mouldings highlighted with green paint that enclose recessed areas highlighted with geometric motifs. It is important to remember that at this time the illumination in an interior was provided by a blazing fire in the hearth as well as candles burning in wall sconces and candlesticks placed about the room. This light produced high levels of contrast with darkness and light combining to create a sense of drama. Furniture artisans were well aware of this and carved, painted and gilded furniture in a way to take advantage of the shift in natural light as it flared and flickered. As the back descends to the seat the left and right arms move toward the front of the chair with a shallow sweep with a large palm leaf motif at the back along with a ribbed profile to the surface of the arm before it reaches the front to terminate in an acanthus leaf design with a five petal flower on the inside and outside. The leaves and flowers are gilded to match the wings of the swan and this similar colour value completes the visual integration of the arms to the seat. The front of the chairs each have a slight outward facing bow that increases the area of the seat itself for comfort and the wooded frame has been carved and painted to match the top panel of each chair. This repetition of motifs at different levels in an article of furniture is always a sign of design awareness and excellence as it creates a unified whole. The two front legs on each chair have a cylindrical configuration with the leg being bisected by a carved motif that is made of a series of overlapping leaves facing both up and down and fully encircling each leg. The placement of this design is what separates these chairs from those created during the eighteenth century when the carving was placed at the top of each leg. The side rails and the outer back of each rear leg continue the raised moulding enclosing a recessed space highlighted by using the green paint to the finish and each rear leg features a slight curve known as a "sabre" leg after the shape of the famous sword. Both chairs have been reupholstered in a splendid richly patterned silk fabric with a geometric design chosen to complement the colour of the chairs. As these are period chairs they are a smaller scale than those made at a later date and this gives them the true proportion of a period example of Napoleon era furniture. Please be sure to use the zoom function offered on our website to view the various special details that make these chairs an especially attractive addition to a twenty-first century interior.

Dimensions:
Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Empire (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Fabric,Paint,Gilt
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1810
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: BH7041stDibs: LU8668789305