Empire Square Armchair with Gondola Back and Sculpted Egyptian Figures, Paris, France, 1810s

Details

Description

This state armchair, with its majestic, architectural silhouette, belongs to the rare category of Empire armchairs with a square, gondola-shaped … Read more This state armchair, with its majestic, architectural silhouette, belongs to the rare category of Empire armchairs with a square, gondola-shaped back, crafted in the finest Parisian workshops of the early 19th century.

Finely carved in solid mahogany, it is distinguished by its straight armrests adorned with Egyptian-style female figures, carved in wood and polychromed, a direct echo of the Orientalist trend born during Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign. These busts evoke ancient sphinxes, a symbol of wisdom and power.

This type of furniture was typically intended for the official residences of Napoleon I, such as the Château de Compiègne, Malmaison, or the Tuileries Palace, where it served as a representative armchair in audience rooms, state rooms, or libraries.

The raspberry silk upholstery with a gilded palmette motif, although recent, was chosen to remain faithful to Empire fabrics, emphasizing the nobility of the form without altering its authenticity.

Typology:
Armchair with a gondola back – Empire ceremonial armchair

Period:
Empire, circa 1810

Origin:
France, attributable to a Parisian workshop in the style of Jacob-Desmalter, imperial cabinetmaker.

Materials:
Carved solid mahogany, polychrome wooden figures, gilded foliate ornamentation
Modern silk fabric (reupholstered in the style of the period)

Dimensions:
Total height: 96 cm
Seat height: 46 cm
Width: 65 cm
Depth: 73 cm

Condition:
Very good overall condition. Stable structure, reupholstered fabric. Some subtle marks of age on the wood, old patina preserved. See less