Italian, Emilia
Two Armchairs (Poltrone da parata), mid 18th century
Walnut with embroidered upholstery
The back, seat and padded arms of these two mid-18th century Italian armchairs are upholstered in gold damask fabric. The top edge of the back curves gracefully upward at the center and the arms are supported by s-shaped wooden supports. The cabriole legs expand gracefully at the top and are attached to simple stiles by slightly curved stretchers. The back legs are plain.
Titian Room
Commentary
This type of armchair remains heavily dependent on late-seventeenth-century designs, but the graceful curve of the arm supports and the swelling of the front legs indicate a date in the middle of the eighteenth century. The cabriole legs of the chairs, which expand grandly at the top, are attached to simple stiles by subtly shaped and molded H-stretchers. The padded arms are supported by playful s-shaped supports. Both arms of F26w2.2 were replaced at the end of the nineteeth century, while the other chair has a restored arm.