Pair of neoclassical armchairs, in lacquered and gilded carved wood, Turin, late 18th century Measurements: cm W 68 x D 62 x H 101; Seat height 46 Price: by private negotiation Item accompanied by our certificate of authenticity The refined pair of armchairs was made in Turin, in the Neoclassical period, around the end of the 18th century. Stylistically, the overall composition and the design of the decorations refer to what the highest craftsmen of the time proposed for the Savoy court and their entourage, including the production of the cabinetmaker Francesco Bolgiè. Made of finely carved wood, lacquered in a warm white and gilded, they feature a rounded backrest, upholstered and slightly embracing. The edge of the backrest, bordered by a double gilded reserve, is punctuated in the central lacquered band by a sequence of gilded carvings, which create a tight and luminous rhythm around the upholstered panel covered with a light-colored chinoiserie fabric. The top of the seat is enriched by a carved wooden crest with gilded floral motifs; floral motifs are also found in the junctions between the backrest and the seat, also upholstered and lined with chinoiserie fabric. The elegantly shaped armrests have upholstered rests, while the wooden part is carved with phytomorphic motifs in the curling terminal and with gilded reserves where they join the seat. The apron below the seat has a gilded upper edge, followed by the same decoration as the backrest. The lower gilded reserve is followed by a thin white lacquered frame, less protruding, which visually lightens the volume of the seat and emphasizes its slender line. The junction between the apron and the legs is composed of gilded quadrangular elements, with a white sunken area and a carved and gilded floral decoration. The four carved, lacquered, and gilded legs originate with a particular four-sided capital adorned with acanthus leaves; the fluted legs, tapering downwards, end with small decorated cubic terminals. The ensemble conveys the image of a pair of armchairs of executive quality, originally intended for an important aristocratic drawing-room and today perfect both as a sophisticated accent in a classic interior and as a contrasting element in contemporary settings. Due to the refinement of the design, the balance between light lacquering and gilding, these seats lend themselves to becoming charming and decorative furnishings for entrances, living rooms, or bedrooms.
Period: Second half of the 18th century