Pair of Antique French Louis XVI Style Painted Armchairs, circa 1880

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Pair of Antique French Louis XVI Style Painted Armchairs, circa 1880

About the Item

Receive our new selections direct from 1stdibs by email each week. Please click follow dealer below and see them first! These beautiful antique French Louis XVI style painted armchairs, circa 1880 are marvelously comfortable. The elegant lines of neoclassical design are perfectly apparent in these chairs known as "fauteuils à la reine" in French. Please look at the lovely oval back of each antique French armchair to see how the upholstery (fresh muslin to replace the worn to shreds original fabric) is entirely contained within the painted timber frame so its padding is securely fastened. Adjacent to the upholstery is a border of small spheres known as "les perles" in French because of its resemblance to a strand of matched pearls. Since antiquity pearls have carried the most value of any precious stone because of its natural origin and the enormous expense of gathering a large enough set of matched specimens to create an entire necklace. Look at portraits through the ages and every powerful person, both male and female, are wearing some type of pearls. The outer edge of the chair back features a powerfully bold rope twist pattern with deep in and out grooves that create a great play of light and dark as light passes over the chairs. The back floats above the seat of the chair and is connected by a pair of curved timber supports to the actual seat frame. The armchairs stand upon four cylindrical legs adorned with palmettes above fluting before reaching the smooth rounded feet known as a "toupie" foot. The proportion of the taper on each leg is superb and balances the scale of the back and seat in a pleasing manner. Please notice that the sides of the chair flare out from the back as the frame moves to the front. In addition the front edge of the seat has a bow front giving a wide area between the front arms. The bow front and the sides also feature the same beaded edge and rope twist pattern seen on the oval back in a continuation of the overall design that is another hallmark of superior french construction. This width between the front arms was necessary during the reign of Louis XVI because of the fashion for women's dresses to be large and voluminous. When seated, the dress of a fashionable lady would not be crushed by narrow arms. The arms are also set back from the seat front to allow for extra space. The original painted finish exhibits the passage of time due to the different wear patterns on each chair and adds enormously to their desirability.

Dimensions:
Height: 38 in (96.52 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)Depth: 25 in (63.5 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Style:
Louis XVI (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Muslin,Painted
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1800-1809
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1880
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: SPA181stDibs: LU86685858233