Bleached French Oak Curule Bench with Lion Heads and Iron Rings, Circa 1920

View Similar Items

Italian Renaissance Style Lion-Head Curule Bench

Vintage Curule Iron Bench

French 1950s Raw Iron Curule-Form Bench with Incurved Arms

Pair Of Italian Brass Curule Benches With Lions Heads

English Oak Hand Carved Bench Settle with Recumbent Carved Lions

Batistin Spade, Oak Upholstered Bench with Curved Frame, France, circa 1946

Petite Steel Bench with Seahorse Heads, Hoofed Feet and Shelf, circa 1950

Vintage Painted Neoclassical Style Curule Bench

French Modern Bleached & Silverleaf Curule Bench with Cashmere Upholstery

Italian Midcentury Empire Style Painted and Upholstered Bench with Ram Heads

Neoclassical Iron and Velvet Curule Bench, France, 1940s

Pair of French Neoclassical Curule Stools

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 20

Bleached French Oak Curule Bench with Lion Heads and Iron Rings, Circa 1920

About the Item

This antique French stool frame, known as a curule or savonarola, is made of bleached oak and is ready for a leather/fabric upholstery of your choice. First seen in ancient Rome, a curule is a small chair designed to be easily transported by folding the legs. Although our bleached curule bench is not collapsible, it was crafted with the same curvaceous X-shaped stretcher (ours has canted edges) seen on most curule. Hand-carved from oak wood in circa 1920 France, this handsome chair frame features lion head mascarons and large iron rings. The original seat material would have been wrapped around the horizontal baluster form stretchers that connect beneath the lion heads. Each iron ring hangs in the mouth of the lion and is embellished with braided leather tassels. There are three more stretchers with identical turned balusters, two near the base and one in the center that is adorned on the outside with a floret carving. Only the magistrates of ancient Rome were allowed to sit upon a curule. The cachet of being a status symbol for political or military leaders continued well into the 20th century, often used by European royalty and emperors, such as Napoleon. Most curule had leather seats, as the material was pliable enough to be folded during transport. This attractive bleached oak curule from France is ready to be upholstered in any leather or cotton fabric of your choice.

Dimensions:
Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 31.75 in (80.65 cm)Depth: 19.5 in (49.53 cm)
Style:
Classical Roman (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Iron,Metal,Oak,Wood,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1920-1929
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1920
Condition:
Additions or alterations made to the original: The original finish has been stripped. The seat, which was most likely leather, has also been removed. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Good antique condition with minor nicks and rubs and minor wear. Light losses to the lion ears.
Seller Location:
Dallas, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: 422-2231stDibs: LU906332420692