Italian, Piedmont or Liguria
Set of Six Armchairs (Poltrone da parata), late 17th century - early 18th century
Walnut and pine, 124 x 69 x 50 cm (48 13/16 x 27 3/16 x 19 11/16 in.)
This set of six armchairs appear in the Raphael Room. The wood framing is stained in a dark finish; the back and seat are upholstered in a red matte fabric, possibly velvet. The back of the chair is square and has a decorative trim border along all four edges. The armrests are curved to a rounded end. The posts supporting the armrests are carved into three curved sections. The seat is also square with the same decorative trim. In addition, decorative tassels dangle along the seat bottom on all four sides. The legs’ carving mimics the posts below the armrests. A carved and curving stretcher forms an X near the chairs’ feet.
Raphael Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.