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Curved-back Armchair

Maker Georges Jacob French, 1739 - 1814

Dateca. 1780

Place of OriginFrance

MediumBeech, paint, upholstery, leather, brass upholstery nails

DimensionsOverall: 35 3/4 × 22 3/4 × 19 1/4 in. (90.8 × 57.8 × 48.9 cm)
Length of legs: 11 in. (27.9 cm)
Depth of seat: 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Height of seat: 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm)

ClassificationsFurniture

Credit LineBequest of Charlotte Pruyn Hyde

Object number1971.243.1

DescriptionLouis XVI Ivory-Painted Fauteuil en Cabriolet. Horsehoe-shaped upholstered back and seat is curved in outline as well as in three-dimensions to create a more comfortable, less-formal type of seating. The concaved back panel is what gives it the French designation "en cabriolet" describing a curved form. The back with raised lower rail is completely enframed with rope or twisted-ribbon molding. The arms conform to the curve of the seat and have upholstered elbows (presently leather). Vertically-serpentine arm supports curve toward the back of the chair as they move upward to join the arm just behind the scrolled terminal. The arm stiles are carved with addorsed petal-tips. The face of the chair back and the bow-front seat is half-upholstered over the rails in contemporary (Aubusson?) tapestry, which, on this chair, depicts Aesop's fable "The Dog, the Meat and the Reflection." All four of the turned, tapered legs are fluted with the front legs further ornamented with stop fluting highlighted at the top by inverted husk carving. The top of the leg is marked by a molded block which at the front is carved with a stylized blossom and at the rear is empty.

One of a pair of chairs, see 1971.243.2. Originally may have been from a larger set including side chairs.

The original covering for the arms/elbows is unknown but seems unlikely to have so strongly contrasted with the original tapestry covering, both in color and texture.

On View

On view