Pair of Italian Neoclassical Armchairs, Early 19th Century

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Description

In the 18th Century and early 19th Century, Chairs in continental Europe
were constructed of beechwood, on account of it's … Read more In the 18th Century and early 19th Century, Chairs in continental Europe
were constructed of beechwood, on account of it's lightness and acceptance of stain and finishes.
The chairs were constructed in separate parts- legs, arms, side and top
rails of the back etc. which were assembled by mortise and tenon joints
and strengthened by wooden plugs, usually inserted without glue.
Chair- makers in Italy genrally shaped and jointed their chair frames
themselves, but sometimes a Journeyman shaped some of the chairs
if they had a larger order. This accounts for slight variations in Chairs
produced by the same Chair-maker shop.
One finds on rare occasions pieces fabricated in Italy that follow the
famous designs of the English designers. In this case these chairs
hint to the designs of Hepplewhite. In Italy it was comon to take the
style of french or english designs and modify them "the Italian way"
Italian craftsmen took out some of the rigid forms of the original
designs and interpreted them with a sense of humor and softness.
So you see the urn shape in the backsplat of these chairs, is somewhat
loose and less formal than the english cousin. See less