Antique 19th Century Hand-Carved Ebonized Faux Bois Aesthetic Movement Side Chair With Floral Needlepoint Seat

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Description

A wonderfully unusual 19th-century hand-carved side chair combining the naturalistic forms of faux bois with the decorative exuberance of the … Read more A wonderfully unusual 19th-century hand-carved side chair combining the naturalistic forms of faux bois with the decorative exuberance of the Aesthetic Movement.

The sculptural wood frame is carved throughout to resemble twisting branches and deeply textured bark, then finished in a dark ebonized surface. The dramatic openwork crest is particularly striking, with intertwined branches framing dimensional carved leaves and clusters of berries. The faux-bois treatment continues down the slender legs to the organically curved feet, giving the entire chair the appearance of having been fashioned from the branches of a fantastical woodland tree.

A round floral needlepoint seat provides a charming contrast to the dark frame, worked with roses and garden flowers in muted shades of pink, red, lavender, blue and green against a warm neutral ground.

Dating to the late 19th century, circa 1880–1900, the chair reflects the Victorian fascination with naturalistic and rustic forms and has affinities with the elaborately carved faux-bois furniture associated with Swiss and Black Forest workshops of the period. Its combination of botanical ornament, ebonized wood and handcrafted decoration also fits beautifully within the broader Aesthetic Movement taste for unusual materials, nature-inspired motifs and highly decorative interiors.

The ebonized surface has acquired a particularly appealing patina, with generations of wear revealing warm wood along the raised carving, edges and feet and emphasizing the depth of the handwork. Rather than appearing overly restored, the chair retains the wonderfully timeworn character of a genuine antique.

At approximately 30" high and 15" wide, its relatively diminutive proportions make it an especially versatile accent piece. Beautiful beside a writing desk or vanity, in a library or bedroom, or simply displayed as a sculptural chair in a collected interior.

Condition: Good antique condition with considerable age-appropriate wear and patina. The ebonized finish shows losses and rubbing throughout, revealing the natural wood beneath, particularly along raised areas and the feet. Evidence of age, old repairs and minor losses is present in the carved elements. The floral needlepoint shows expected wear consistent with age. Please review photographs closely as they form an important part of the condition description. See less