20th C Pair of Tall Back Impressive Louis XVI Style Armchairs

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A handsome and classically proportioned pair of French Louis XVI-style carved walnut armchairs, distinguished by their tall upholstered backs, architectural … Read more A handsome and classically proportioned pair of French Louis XVI-style carved walnut armchairs, distinguished by their tall upholstered backs, architectural frames, and beautifully restrained neoclassical carving. Elegant without being overly ornate, these chairs capture the disciplined symmetry and refinement that made the Louis XVI style one of the most enduring periods of French furniture design.

Each chair features a tall, gently arched rectangular back, framed in beautifully finished walnut and crowned by a carved crest incorporating a repeating scroll or guilloche motif. The strong vertical proportions give the chairs an impressive presence, while the subtle shaping of the back prevents them from appearing severe.

The open arms descend gracefully from the back and terminate in finely carved scroll-form hand rests. Upholstered arm pads provide additional comfort. The supports beneath are turned and fluted in the classical manner, echoing the treatment of the legs and reinforcing the chairs' neoclassical character.

The generously proportioned upholstered seats are supported by straight architectural rails ornamented at the corners with carved floral paterae or rosettes. A particularly attractive carved guilloche motif decorates the center of the front rail. Below, four slender tapered and fluted legs terminate in small turned feet—one of the most recognizable characteristics of Louis XVI furniture and a distinct departure from the curving cabriole legs of the earlier Louis XV period.

The warm walnut frames have a mellow golden-brown coloration that beautifully complements the upholstery. The chairs are covered in an elegant cream and pale-gold woven fabric, featuring a subtle repeating classical floral or medallion pattern across both the backs and seats.

As a matched pair, these French armchairs would make wonderful host and hostess chairs at a dining table, or could be used as occasional seating in a living room, library, bedroom, or entrance hall. Their combination of carved walnut, tall backs, fluted legs, classical ornament, and understated cream-and-gold upholstery gives them a timeless, sophisticated French presence.


Dimensions: 47.25 inches high x 22.5 inches wide x 23.5 inches deep. Seat Height 18.75 inches. See less