Italian, Tuscany
Two Armchairs (Poltrone da parata), about 1700
Walnut, 139 x 68 x 63 cm (54 3/4 x 26 3/4 x 24 13/16 in.)
These two matching walnut armchairs are partially upholstered, in the seat and seatback, and partially carved wood. The tall seatback and wide, deep seat are fully upholstered in green; the fabric background is a light green with a slightly darker green repeating pattern of a large flowery crest surrounded by an upright diamond-shaped flowery vine. The seat's lower edge is circled by a matching green hanging fringe. The wooden armrests curve towards a clawed hand-rest and join the seat at the front corners by a short wooden spindle. The chair legs have similar spindles and are joined at the sides by spindled supports, with a central spindled cross support from the sides and under the seat.
Long Gallery
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.