Antique Louis Philippe Voltaire Lounge Chair

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Louis Philippe period Voltaire armchair with rack, green velvet. A Voltaire is a large comfortable armchair (well padded) with a … Read more Louis Philippe period Voltaire armchair with rack, green velvet. A Voltaire is a large comfortable armchair (well padded) with a high inclined back. The armrests are wide and padded, making it easier to rest. At the end of the 19th century, it was mainly used for the sick and the elderly.

The origin of the name is unknown: it probably comes from a representation of Voltaire, dating from the 1820s, in which the philosophical writer appears languid in a high medallion armchair with an exposed natural wood back.

The “Voltaire” armchair is characteristic of the “Louis-Philippe style”, to the point that armchairs of this shape will remain imbued with the fashion of this era throughout the 19th century. See less