Bugatti Chair Carlo Bugatti Walnut and Copper Side Chair Italian Signed, 1900

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Bugatti Chair Carlo Bugatti Walnut and Copper Side Chair Italian Signed, 1900

About the Item

Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) side chair made from walnut with embossed copper and pewter inlay, velum seat and back painted with stylized flora with original silk tassels, circa 1900, the chair is signed by Carlo Bugatti to velum seat. Background: Carlo Bugatti was an Italian furniture designer most active in the Art Nouveau era, circa 1900. His eclectic, striking designs are unlike any others and are immediately recognizable. Our era is so concerned with good taste and Classic design — it's nice to take a peek at the bizarre and fabulous work of the past. Artists and designers were seeking a new kind of design, one that was properly modern and new while still resting on sound design principles, circa turn of the 20th century. The industrial revolution was essentially complete, but the factories' output was little more than a rehashing of previous styles and trends. Forward-looking designers looked to pre-industrial and non-Western cultures for a 'new,' pure visual vocabulary, one untainted by the exigencies of machine manufacture. Of course, these artists were still looking to the past, but it was a foreign, exotic past, and they were trying to use these other cultures as inspiration, not for imitation. The most influential 'foreign' cultures at the time were the Gothic era (the past as foreign), Japan, and the Islamic World. Like many designers of his era, Carlo Bugatti turned to these three influences in his own work. But he combined them and transformed them in a totally unique way, somehow avoiding the rather obvious orientalizing tendencies of some of his peers. When the Queen of Italy commended Bugatti on his "Mooresque" work in 1902, he cheekily responded, "You are mistaken, Majesty, this style is mine!" Today, the name Bugatti is immediately associated with the French carmaker: Carlo’s firstborn, Ettore, founded it in Molsheim, in 1909. His other son, Rembrandt, became a famous sculptor. A family with creativity and talent in its blood. Early 20th century Rare Carlo Bugatti Side chair Walnut Copper Pewter Investment Practical and beautiful.

Creator:
Carlo Bugatti (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 40 in (101.6 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
Style:
Moorish (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Abalone,Copper,Pewter,Walnut
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1900
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
Seller Location:
Longdon, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1832318526312

Shop All Carlo Bugatti

Carlo Bugatti

Imaginative, bold and full of poetic details, the work of Carlo Bugatti pushed the boundaries of the Art Nouveau style. The Italian furniture designer and decorative artist’s celebrated chairs, tables and other pieces are representative of a range of influences that include European Gothic, Moorish traditions and classical Japanese art. Bugatti’s appetite for experimentation with new forms and materials has fueled the imaginations of designers everywhere.

Bugatti was born in 1856 in Milan. The son of successful interior decorator, sculptor and architect Giovanni Bugatti, Carlo set out to follow in his father’s footsteps, studying architecture at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and working as a cabinetmaker. He moved to Paris in 1875 to continue his studies in design at the prestigious Academie des Beaux-Arts. By the early 1880s, Bugatti had moved back to Milan to continue his career in furniture design.

Antique Bugatti seating, center tables and other large furnishings are visually striking in their level of ornamentation. These works feature hand-carved motifs and were frequently inlaid with luxury materials such as mother-of-pearl, ebony and brass — his distinctive Throne chair (ca. 1900), for example, featured pierced copper and vellum. Detailed themes rooted in nature, stencils and geometric patterns adorn his venturesome decorative screens and handcrafted mahogany and walnut chairs and tables.

In 1888, the designer displayed his work publicly for the first time, showcasing pieces at the Industrial Arts Exhibition in Milan and later at the Italian Exhibition in London. His flamboyant furniture led to his becoming an overnight success among members of the aristocracy, who flooded him with commissions to design custom furniture for their homes. In 1904, Bugatti and his family moved to France, where designed furniture for department stores such as Maison Dufayel and Le Bon Marché. His two sons also pursued work in design — Rembrandt Bugatti became a noted sculptor while Ettore gained renown as a leading automobile designer and manufacturer.

Although his furniture became increasingly subdued in appearance over the years — and he would eventually begin to design serveware and jewelry — Bugatti garnered acclaim throughout his career. He received an award at the 1900 Paris Exposition and exhibited interiors and a furniture collection at the inaugural International Exposition of Modern Decorative Arts in Turin, Italy, in 1902. Today, Bugatti’s work remains on permanent display at the Musée de la Chartreuse in Molsheim, France.

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