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Set of Eight 19th Century Venetian Chairs

$9,600per set
£7,216.66per set
€8,366.40per set
CA$13,403.09per set
A$15,012.17per set
CHF 7,811.33per set
MX$182,321.80per set
NOK 99,027.86per set
SEK 93,440.16per set
DKK 62,425.27per set
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About the Item

A rare and beautifully matched set of eight Venetian chairs, dating to the mid-to-late 19th century, comprising six side chairs and two armchairs. Each chair retains its original oxidized celadon paint, with water-gilt detailing and delicate hand-brushed ornamentation. The surface has developed a magnificent patina, with just the right degree of oxidation, wear, and warmth to tell a story without sacrificing structure or visual clarity. The pale celadon hue is soft and refined—neither too precious nor too bold—and subtle differences in the brushwork suggest these were finished by hand in a fine Venetian workshop. Unlike many Venetian chairs of the period, which can feel rigid or overly upright, these examples offer a surprisingly comfortable sit, with generous angles and well-proportioned seats that show care in their construction as well as their decoration. Chairs of this quality and artistry would have originally been commissioned for a noble or patrician home in Venice, but by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they would also have appealed to the cultivated American collector or cosmopolitan traveler—clients who acquired European decorative arts during extended Grand Tours or through top-tier decorators and dealers. This is the kind of set that would have been sourced or specified by designers like Frances Elkins, Elsie de Wolfe, or Syrie Maugham, all of whom understood how to balance the romance of historic European craftsmanship with the elegance of more pared-down, American spaces. These chairs would have found their way into East Coast drawing rooms, Newport parlors, or Fifth Avenue salons, often used to soften more formal architectural environments with their sculptural silhouettes and worn, painterly surfaces. Today, this rare and cohesive set could be the soul of a dining room, library, or layered salon—where its aged celadon tones and quiet gilt shimmer lend both gravitas and delicacy. It is exceptionally rare to find a matched group of eight in such well-preserved original condition. Measurements listed are for side chairs; armchairs are slightly larger.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 39 in (99.06 cm)Width: 19 in (48.26 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)Seat Height: 19 in (48.26 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 8
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Mid-1860s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. upholstery is vintage and could use some updating, chairs are structurally very sound and in very good condition for age.
  • Seller Location:
    Kilmarnock, VA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU88305210563

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