French Louis XIII Hunting Style Carved Walnut Armchair, Circa 1860

Details

Description

A striking mid-19th-century French carved walnut open armchair in the Louis XIII hunting style, dating to approximately 1860.

The chair … Read more A striking mid-19th-century French carved walnut open armchair in the Louis XIII hunting style, dating to approximately 1860.

The chair features an exceptionally tall and elaborate architectural back with a wide pierced crest centered by a large cartouche and raised boss, surrounded by deeply carved foliate, floral, fruit, and scroll decoration. Channeled stiles terminate in carved finials, while the arms incorporate upholstered manchettes, substantial carved handholds, and turned supports. The lower frame is finished with turned stretchers and distinctive ball-and-block front legs.

The inset back, generous seat, and padded arms were reupholstered by Elke’s Antiques in coordinating figural tapestry-style fabric with decorative gimp trim. The lighter upholstery provides an attractive contrast to the richly toned walnut frame and allows the extensive carved detail to remain the visual focus.

At 52 inches tall, the chair has substantial sculptural presence and works especially well as a statement armchair, library chair, study chair, or decorative focal point in a traditional or collected interior.

PROVENANCE AND DOCUMENTATION

Purchased from Elke’s Antiques in Ramstein, Germany, in 2001.

The chair was restored and reupholstered by Elke’s Antiques prior to purchase and has remained in the same private collection since that time.

It is accompanied by its original Elke’s Antiques dealer certificate, numbered 4, identifying the chair as:

France — Louis XIII Hunting Style — circa 1860 — Walnut

The chair was subsequently documented as Item 4 in a 2006 professional insurance appraisal prepared by an ISA appraiser. That appraisal independently identifies it as a walnut upholstered open armchair, circa 1860, and describes its heavily carved and pierced crest, large cartouche with center boss, channeled stiles with finials, carved handholds, turned stretchers, ball-and-block front legs, and figural tapestry upholstery. The appraisal assigned a retail replacement value of $4,500 in 2006. See less