11701 PAIR OF NEOCLASSICAL EBONY AND GILT-BRASS INLAID ARMCHAIRS

11701 PAIR OF NEOCLASSICAL EBONY AND GILT-BRASS INLAID ARMCHAIRS IN THE MANNER OF JEAN-JOSEPH CHAPUIS AFTER A PLATE FROM COLLECTION DE MEUBLES ET OBJETS DE GOÛT Possibly Brussels. Early Nineteenth Century. Measurements: Width: 24 1/2″ (62 cm) Depth: 23″ (58.4 cm); Height: 36″ (91.4 cm); Seat Height: 18 3/4″ (47.6 cm)

Of mahogany, ebony and gilt-brass. Each with rectangular toprail inlaid with central brass lozenge flanked by ebony arabesque decoration, the central cruciform splat with brass collar around each scrolled end and ebonized stringing and foliate motif at the center. From the siderails issuing straight arms supported by downswept ebonized winged griffins terminating in paw feet resting on brass trimmed rectangular block uprights. The upholstered seat above a plain frieze, decorated to the front with repeating ebonized palmette pattern flanked by six pointed stars, raised on four legs, the pair to the reverse of saber form, the pair to the front of turned with brass and ebonized collars at the top and terminating in tapered feet.

The present armchairs are based on an illustration from the Collection de meubles et objets de goût published by Pierre Joseph Antoine Leboux de La Mésangère (1761–1831), between 1797 and 1831. The drawing, circa 1802, is found in Plate No. 20 in the first volume of the series, described as a chaise garnie (upholstered chair).

Research report available on request.