Pair Antique Liegoise Louis XIV Side Chairs

Pair Antique French Louis XIV Armchairs were crafted from solid old-growth oak and fine, luxurious fabric to create a majestic seating group that provides as much comfort as it does ...

Pair antique French Louis XIV hand-carved armchairs recall the glory years of the Sun King, and feature timeless styling inspired by classicism with Baroque flair. Each chair has bee...

Pair 19th century French Louis XV - Regence armchairs ~ Bergeres are an incredibly stylish way to add comfortable seating to your favorite room! Upholstered in a very high-quality ta...

Pair antique French Louis XV side chairs with tapestry upholstery was sculpted from fine walnut, and features exquisitely formed frameworks...

This exquisite pair of French Provincial Louis XV-style side chairs dates from the 20th century and showcases masterful craftsmanship. Each chair features a beautifully carved walnut...

A very impressive pair of late 19th century Louis XIV style walnut armchairs, each with tapestry upholstery depicting rural country houses, scrolling carved arms and legs with parcel...

Pair of French Louis XV side chairs, the carved rail in the typical manner of the period, with detailed leaf motifs. to the canework back a...

Three hundred years of history, rich wood, simple beauty, and rare transitional form! This is a near pair of early French chairs. They are dated circa 1690; imagine more than 300 years of history! They are made of two prized hardwoods--walnut and oak. The chairs are a rich, dark chocolate color with a wonderful patina. The chairs are similar in size, color, and construction, but they are not perfectly matched pairs. The chairs have a simple, utilitarian beauty. Their open backrests have small curves decorating the top rail. The front legs and front crossbars have easy turnings. The legs are reinforced with classic H-stretchers. There are simple cylindrical feet in front and block feet in back. They are of the period and representative of an early, rustic, provincial Louis XIV style. Each chair includes a custom hand-tied cushion made from a Scalamandre textile. The design features deep foliage in faded greens, yellows, and browns, with a few red speckles. The fabric is contemporary yet finished to look wonderfully old, faded, and worn. The chair's historical interest will inspire the collector in you. Early on, most people sat on stools. During the 1600s, chairs--an innovation at the time--became popular. Early chairs were often backstools--more stools with backrests than our modern seats. This pair captures this unique moment of the evolution from stool to chair. The chairs are smaller in size. Their backs are about 32 and 1/2 inches tall, and their seats are about 15 and 1/2 inches high. They are bigger than a child's chair but smaller than a dining chair. The size is part of the historical context. For sure, people were smaller back in the 17th century—maybe 6 inches shorter or more on average. Most importantly, the small size meant these rare, highly valued items could be easily carried where needed—to a guest relaxing, a servant doing light chores, or a devotee praying. (Before we purchased these chairs, they had been in a family chapel at a manor house in the South of France for 100+ years.) Today, you might use these chairs to provide a striking contrast with the rest of your home. The smaller size means they might accessorize your living room, study, hallway, or nook. As the chairs come as a pair, you might sit on them around a fireplace, use them to bookend a side table, or corner them around a coffee table. Wherever placed, these chairs communicate a beauty that's timeless, simple, and functional. Email us to learn more about and to view more pictures of this pair of antique 17th-century French chairs.