A fine pair of carved walnut salon chairs in the Louis XV taste, exhibiting the graceful proportions and fluid line associated with mid-eighteenth-century French design. Each chair is constructed with a shaped and molded frame, the serpentine crest rail centered by an exuberantly carved cartouche of scrolling acanthus and foliate ornament. The padded back is enclosed within a molded and carved surround that flows seamlessly into the stiles, which descend in a series of naturalistic curves to meet the seat rail.
The backs are upholstered in a neutral, soft grey linen with self-piping, providing a restrained counterpoint to the richness of the timber. The upholstery is tightly tailored, emphasizing the undulating outline of the frame and the gentle bombe form of the back. Below, a carved and pierced splat features a stylized shell motif framed by C-scrolls and acanthus leaves, reinforcing the Rococo vocabulary of the design.
The serpentine seat rails are similarly carved, with floral and foliate ornament centered along the apron and echoed at the corners. The generously proportioned seats are upholstered en suite with the backs, finished with double piping that follows the shaped outline of the rails. The carving is crisp and well-defined, particularly evident in the floral clusters and the scrolling detail along the knees.
Each chair stands on cabriole legs terminating in scroll feet, the knees adorned with carved foliage that continues the decorative theme established above.
Dimensions
Height: 35.5 inches – 90cm
Height to seat: 20.5 inches – 52cm
Width: 19 inches – 48cm
Depth: 21 inches – 53cm
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