Art Nouveau Armchair in Walnut with Viennese Caning, 1900

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This armchair, dating from around 1900, combines design features of late Historicism with the emerging Art Nouveau style, recognizable by … Read more This armchair, dating from around 1900, combines design features of late Historicism with the emerging Art Nouveau style, recognizable by its openwork crown and flowing frame. The curved armrests, bent legs, and high, rounded backrest create a calm, vertically emphasized overall form that appears clearly proportioned and cohesive. Historical Context: Seating with Viennese cane webbing was widespread around the turn of the century, as the woven cane was lightweight, breathable, and relatively inexpensive to produce. Individual armchairs of this type served as movable seating in salons, studies, and living rooms, and were frequently used at desks or as additional seating. The openwork handle in the crown suggests a design intended to facilitate moving the chair. The combination of bent solid wood and flat cane webbing reflected the contemporary desire to combine stability with a visually light appearance. Features: Openwork handle in the profiled crown of the backrest. Backrest and seat each feature separately incorporated Viennese cane webbing. Design: Stylistically, the chair lies between late Historicism and Art Nouveau. The design follows a consistent line: curved armrests with rolled volutes, bent front and back legs, and a high, rounded backrest. Load-bearing solid wood components and the two woven surfaces are clearly separated, allowing the construction and infill to remain legible as distinct design elements. The ornamentation is limited to profiled edges and the openwork crown. Function: Originally, the chair served as a movable piece of seating, for example, at a desk or in a drawing-room. Today, it is suitable as a desk or work chair, as an occasional chair, or as a standalone accent chair in the living area. Dimensions: Overall height: 106 cm, Seat height: 46 cm, Width: 53 cm, Depth: 48 cm. Material and condition: Solid walnut. Seat and backrest with Viennese cane webbing. Overall, well-preserved for its age with visible patina and signs of wear. The woven backrest has a small tear (see photo). The chair was professionally inspected and refurbished by Kastellan: sanded, sealed, and oiled; the construction is stable and secure. See less