Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8

Pair of Italian Crab-Form Grotto Chairs, Attributed to Pauly et Cie, Venice

$35,130.49per set
$43,913.11per set20% Off
£25,600per set
£32,000per set20% Off
€30,164.93per set
€37,706.17per set20% Off
CA$48,763.05per set
CA$60,953.81per set20% Off
A$54,702.91per set
A$68,378.64per set20% Off
CHF 28,283.03per set
CHF 35,353.79per set20% Off
MX$659,747.30per set
MX$824,684.13per set20% Off
NOK 359,819.39per set
NOK 449,774.23per set20% Off
SEK 337,005.02per set
SEK 421,256.27per set20% Off
DKK 225,132.19per set
DKK 281,415.23per set20% Off

About the Item

These wacky 'Grotto' chairs were manufactured in Venice in response to the 19th century interior design craze for Grotto furniture. The trend originated with the European nobility of the 18th and 19th centuries, who designed and built whole rooms as shell-encrusted pavilions, to resemble grottos. These chairs are attributed to the Venetian firm Pauly et Cie, who were the leading makers of Grotto furniture in Europe in the late 19th Century; each chair has been expertly crafted in the form of a crab and decorated with a polychrome painted finish. They each feature a hinged back opening to reveal an upholstered velvet seat, all set on a naturalistic base in the form of a shell. Measure: The height of each chair when open is 108cm, and when closed 60cm.
  • Attributed to:
    Pauly et Cie (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 42.52 in (108 cm)Width: 32.68 in (83 cm)Depth: 14.57 in (37 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Late 19th Century
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 151391stDibs: LU95638792453

More From This Seller

View All
Pair of Antique German Antler Chairs with Rococo Style Upholstery
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique German Antler chairs with rococo style upholstery. German, early 20th century Dimensions: Height 108cm, width 212cm, depth 80cm The...
Category

Early 20th Century German Rococo Armchairs

Materials

Antler, Upholstery

Pair of ormolu mounted and lacquered metal curule chairs in the Empire style
Located in London, GB
These beautiful, simple, and sophisticated, curule chairs were executed in the Empire style, combining the majesty of Roman rule with Napoleonic imperial France. Long a symbol of rule and power, curule chairs originally appeared in the Roman Republic, called sella curulis, seats reserved exclusively for those who held imperium, i.e. those who held positions of military or governmental command. Inherited by many subsequent civilisations, and a favourite of European kings wishing to frame their own authority within this Roman tradition, they feature heavily in Empire period France, holding a particular associated with Napoleon. These particular pieces are made of lacquered metal and are mounted with ormolu...
Category

20th Century French Empire Chairs

Materials

Ormolu, Metal

Pair of 19th Century Italian Upholstered X-frame Stools
Located in London, GB
Pair of 19th century Italian upholstered X-frame stools Italian, c. 1840 Height 53cm, width 49cm, depth 40cm This pair of refined stools features a plush, upholstered seat and an el...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Stools

Materials

Textile, Upholstery, Walnut

Pair of Antique French Empire Style Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Chairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique French Empire style mahogany and gilt bronze chairs French, 19th century Dimensions: Height 93cm, width 51cm depth 48cm This pai...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Chairs

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Italian Giltwood Palazzo Chair Suite
Located in London, GB
Consisting of three armchairs and seven side chairs, this superb giltwood suite was made in Italy in the nineteenth century. With slight variations in t...
Category

Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Giltwood

Pair of Large Ornate Giltwood Antique Sofas
Located in London, GB
Pair of large ornate giltwood antique sofas. French, early 20th century. Measures: Height 100cm, width 148cm, depth 75cm. Upholstered with l...
Category

Early 20th Century French Modern Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Giltwood

Pair of Large Ornate Giltwood Antique Sofas
$13,173 Sale Price / set
20% Off

You May Also Like

Marine specimen: a pair of crabs, Italy 1870.
Located in Milan, IT
A pair of marine specimen crabs. The specimen, Splendid Round Red Crab (Etisus Splendidus) is mounted on a vase-shaped wooden base painted brown. Italy...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Natural Specimens

Materials

Wood

Pair of Small Antique Horn Chairs, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of Small Antique Horn Chairs, Austria ca. 1870 Item e5681 A pair small bull horn chairs ca. 1870, one covered with vintage cattle coat which has to...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Chairs

Materials

Metal

Fantastic Pair of Venetian Grotto Style Side Chairs
Located in East Hampton, NY
Unique pair of Venetian style grotto chairs with seahorse carved back and scallop seats in a silvered wood.... the legs are carved in the shape of shells.
Category

Mid-20th Century Side Chairs

Materials

Wood

Pair of 19th Century Carved Wood Venetian Grotto Chairs
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of early 20th century venetian grotto chairs with carved wood clam shell backs and seats, dolphin arms, and legs in a seahorse tail design. 24" W x 20" D x 38" H
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Armchairs

Materials

Wood

Antique Venetian Carved Grotto Rocking Chair, ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
An antique handcarved Venetian rocking chair in grotto design. Seat and backrest in the shape of sea shells, backrest supported by a sea horse. ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Rocking Chairs

Materials

Wood

A Pair of Venetian Silvered and Gilt Grotto Armchairs attributed to Pauly et Cie
By Pauly et Cie
Located in CA, CA
A pair of Italian carved, silvered and gilt 'Grotto' armchairs, attributed to Pauly et Cie Venetian, second half 19th century. Each in the form of an open scallop shell, the arms in ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Victorian Armchairs

Materials

Giltwood