Pair of fine and unusual mahogany Directoire period side chairs

Pair of fine and unusual mahogany Directoire period side chairs
French. Circa 1795.
Measurements
Chair A: Height: 32" (81.3 cm); Seat Height: 18 3/4" (47.7 cm); Width: 18" (45.7 cm); Depth: 18" (45.7 cm). Chair B: Height: 31 3/4" (80.7 cm); Seat Height: 17 3/4" (45.1 cm); Width: 16" (40.7 cm); Depth: 16" (40.7 cm).

Research:
Of mahogany. Each chair with panelled and fluted backrest. Raised upon molded posts which are a continuation of the saber form back legs. The shaped upholstered seat rests on a plain frieze supported to the front on slender turned legs. Small differences in interpretation of design.

The present chairs are superb examples of the brief post revolutionary period known as the Directoire (the span of the stylistic Directoire period, 1789 – 1804, slightly exceeds the duration of the political phase by the same name).

Broadly based on ancient Greek and Roman design ideas, the Directoire taste eschewed carved, gilded or metal mounted ornamenation, relying instead on perfection of line, proportion and the use of the finest quality timbers, predominately mahogany.

The highly unorthodox back backrest composed of a concave center flanked by fluted panels set between curved supports, which form a continuos movement flowing all the way down into the klismos legs at the back, suggest that the design of the present chairs would have been considered highly modern and experimental at the time of their, and was likely conceived by an accomplished architect.

Full details available on request.