French Chairs in Oak and Velvet, 1940s, Set of 4

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A beautiful set of four dining chairs in solid oak and velvet. France, 1940s. An expressive set of four French … Read more A beautiful set of four dining chairs in solid oak and velvet. France, 1940s. An expressive set of four French dining chairs in solid oak - consisting of two armchairs and two side chairs - dating from around the 1940s. Their design belongs to a particularly interesting moment in French furniture, when the decorative vocabulary of art deco and the renewed interest in classical forms were gradually giving way to a more structural and distinctly modern approach. This set of chairs in carved and turned solid oak shows a remarkable and highly elegant design that combines both classical and modernist elements. The turned front legs and shaped arm supports retain something of the classical furniture tradition, while the open backs are almost architectural in construction. However, they are neither conventionally art deco nor fully modernist. Classical proportions and turned elements remain present, but decoration has been reduced to a few geometric interventions and the wooden structure itself has become the principal visual element. This tension between tradition and abstraction is characteristic of an important turning point in French design. The grained oak gives the set a grounded and almost rustic character that prevents the formal composition from becoming severe. The seats have been newly upholstered in a soft cream velvet, providing a great contrast with the dark wood. The four chairs form a particularly characterful ensemble: traditional in craftsmanship, classical in certain details, yet strikingly modern in their geometry and openness. These come in a great condition with reupholstered seats. See less