Late 19th Century French Provençal Directoire Painted Carved Back Rush Seat Dining Chairs, Set of 8

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This is a very special set of 8 antique rush seat dining chairs that combines the elegance of neoclassical design … Read more This is a very special set of 8 antique rush seat dining chairs that combines the elegance of neoclassical design with the rustic warmth of Provençal furniture.

The chairs were hand made of solid wood (possibly beech) and painted soft buttery yellow, highlighted with green and black accents. It’s unclear if the paint is original, but the finish is definitely older and authentically time softened.

The standout feature of these chairs is the carved openwork back splat, which depicts a neoclassical volute-handled urn filled with flowers, resting on pedestal and flanked by tall columns.

The chairs are topped with broad crested rails with scrolled ears, a shape fondly known as “Napoleon’s hat” because of its resemblance to the Emperor’s famous bicorne.

The natural rush seats are painted and decorated with a lattice design. The seats are raised on delicately curved saber legs joined by a box stretcher for added stability.

The circa late 19th century chairs are in very good antique condition. All chairs are sturdy with strong joints. The painted finish is charmingly distressed with chips, scratches, and wear. Two of the chairs have more distressing than others. The rush seats are intact with wear on the painted finish. Please see photos for more details about the condition of the chairs.

Each chair measures 34.5” tall, 19.5” wide, and 16” deep with an 18” seat height. See less