20th C. Louis XV Style Carved Wingback Bergere Chair & Ottoman

Details

Description

This handsome French Louis XV-style walnut bergère with matching ottoman, dating to approximately the 1950s, is an especially inviting interpretation … Read more This handsome French Louis XV-style walnut bergère with matching ottoman, dating to approximately the 1950s, is an especially inviting interpretation of the classic French Rococo armchair. Made in France and constructed with a warm-toned walnut frame, the chair combines the sweeping curves and sculptural qualities associated with Louis XV furniture with the generous proportions and comfort expected of fine mid-twentieth-century seating. Curved backs, cabriole legs, flowing seat rails, padded arms, and an emphasis on comfort are all characteristic of the Louis XV tradition.

The chair is distinguished by its tall, dramatically shaped wing back, which rises in a graceful serpentine outline before descending into pronounced upholstered wings at either side. The exposed walnut molding follows the entire contour of the back, emphasizing its fluid silhouette and displaying a rich, mellow brown finish with attractive variation in the grain and patina. The deeply upholstered back has a comfortable, enveloping character, while the wings provide the sheltered quality traditionally associated with the French bergère à oreilles, or winged bergère.

Gracefully curved arms project forward from the wings and terminate in delicately modeled walnut handholds. Each arm incorporates a padded elbow rest, while the carved wooden supports sweep downward toward the shaped seat rail. The lower frame continues in an uninterrupted series of curves, with a subtly scalloped apron flowing naturally into slender cabriole legs terminating in gently scrolled feet. The carving is restrained rather than excessive, allowing the quality and graceful movement of the walnut framework to remain the principal decorative element.

The chair has been professionally reupholstered in a striking woven textile with alternating vertical bands and bold chevron or zigzag motifs. Its palette combines warm rust and terracotta, muted blue, cream, beige, and touches of soft gray, creating an attractive contrast with the walnut. The patterned upholstery extends over the tall back, wings, sides, arm pads, and generously proportioned loose seat cushion. Careful pattern placement accentuates the chair's height and curving form.

Accompanying the chair is its matching upholstered ottoman, conceived as a complementary extension of the seating ensemble. The ottoman repeats the chair's serpentine walnut framework and elegant cabriole legs and is fitted with a substantial loose cushion upholstered in the same geometric woven fabric. The softly rounded cushion and shaped lower upholstery give the ottoman a particularly luxurious, comfortable appearance.

Together, the chair and ottoman form a beautifully coordinated and highly decorative suite, equally appropriate for a library, bedroom, sitting room, or fireside setting. The chair's generous dimensions, high enveloping back, padded arms, thick loose cushion, and accompanying footrest make the ensemble as functional as it is visually impressive.

The walnut frame and overall structure present in very good vintage condition, with the minor variations, surface marks, and signs of age that should naturally be expected of furniture dating from the mid-twentieth century. The reupholstery presents attractively and complements the frame particularly well. As with all vintage and antique upholstered furniture, however, the fabric is not represented or guaranteed as being entirely free from minor wear, pulls, spots, fading, or other age-appropriate imperfections. Prospective purchasers should examine the available photographs carefully for the condition of the upholstery.

An elegant and substantial example of the enduring French Louis XV Revival tradition, this circa-1950 bergère and ottoman combine sculptural walnut framing, graceful Rococo curves, distinctive patterned upholstery, and exceptional visual comfort in a beautifully matched ensemble.


Dimensions: 42 inches wide x 31.25 inches wide x 34.75 inches deep. Seat Height 18.25 inches.
Ottoman: 19 inches x 31. inches wide x 23 inches deep See less