Items Similar to Mid-18th Century Italian Pair of Armchairs with Leather Covers, Milan circa 1750

18th Century Couple of Italian Giltwood Armchairs

Pair of Italian 18th Century Painted Armchairs

18th Century, Pair of Italian Lacquered Silver Carved Wood Armchairs

Pair of Italian 19th Century Rococo Style Giltwood Carved Armchairs, circa 1860

Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Leather Armchairs by Mobilificio Colombo

Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 19

Mid-18th Century Italian Pair of Armchairs with Leather Covers, Milan circa 1750

$18,322.08per set

About

Pair of armchairs Original impressed leather covers Milan, circa 1750 They measure: 40.94" high [18.11" to the seat] x 21.65" in deep x 27.55". 104 cm high (46 to the seat) x 55 cm deep x 70 cm. State of conservation: Good. The wooden part, still "in patina", shows some signs of use. The covers are contemporary and original and show some signs of wear, as well as slight rippling in few areas; on the reverse, the leather has been reinforced with new leather applications. The two walnut armchairs have a mixtilinear layout decorated with rocaille relief carvings, some of which are highlighted in gold; the legs are shaped and end in a curl. The backrests and seats are padded and upholstered in leather impressed with figures and cartouche decorations. An inventory number written in ink appears on the back of the backrest. In Milan seat covers of impressed leather were very popular, circa mid-18th century. Mutton or cowhide was used which, when suitably tanned, was then worked with heated irons (hot decoration) or with carved wooden molds (cold decoration). These were pressed into the leather until a darker brown color was obtained. Our group of chairs is covered with cold-stamped cowhide. This type of decoration, used systematically in Lombardy, was also present in other Italian regions (Stanislao Petri, Per le industrie dell'arte. Pizzi e Cuoi bolognesi, Rassegna d'Arte Antica e Moderna, 1916, IV, giugno, p. 129). For a comparison with works similar in form, albeit lacquered and without original covers, see the chairs decorated with rocaille motifs and scrolls of acanthus leaves from the Alessandro Durini Legacy 1939, now kept in the Civic Museums of the Castello Sforzesco in Milan (see Enrico Colle, Museo d'Arti Applicate. Mobili e intagli lignei Milano, Milano 1996, pp. 261-262, n. 402). Other bibliography: Clelia Alberici, Il Mobile Lombardo, Milano 1969, pp. 129-131; Luisa Bandera Gregori, “Il mobile lombardo tra Barocco e Rococò” in Settecento lombardo (catalogo della mostra, Milano 1 Febbraio- 28 aprile 1991), fig. V. 20 for a description of an armchair exhibiting various similarities to ours; Anna Contadini, «Cuoridoro»: Tecnica e decorazione di cuoi dorati veneziani e italiani con influssi islamici, in “Atti del Primo Simposio Internazionale sull’Arte Veneziana e Islamica” (a cura di Ernst J. Grube), Venezia, Ateneo Veneto 9-12 dicembre 1986, for a description of the history of leather decorators in Venice and some stages of construction; Antonella Capitanio, Leather as temporary furniture, in Rivista dell'Osservatario per le arti decorative in Italia (OADI) n. 9 del giugno 2014, for a discussion of the diffusion of leather processing in Italian cities.

Details

Dimensions
Height: 40.95 in. (104 cm)Width: 27.56 in. (70 cm)Depth: 21.66 in. (55 cm)Seat Height: 18.12 in. (46 cm)
Sold As
Set of 2
Style
Rococo (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques
CarvedWalnut,Leather
Place of Origin
Italy
Period
1750-1759
Date of Manufacture
circa 1750
Condition
Minor losses. Minor fading. The wooden part, still "in patina", shows some signs of use. The covers are contemporary and original and show some signs of wear, as well as slight rippling in few areas; on the reverse, the leather has been reinforced with new leather applications.
Seller Location
Milano, IT
Reference Number
1stDibs: LU4352222625302
View Invoice

Shipping & Returns

Shipping
Rates vary by destination and complexity. We recommend this shipping type based on item size, type and fragility.
Estimated Customs Duties & Taxes to the Continental US: $0.
Ships From: Milano, Italy
Return Policy
A return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.