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Antique Chairs - Item 3087
Louis XIII Chairs
(only 4 are left, in various coverings)

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Item 3087 |
Louis XIII Armchairs (10 in stock) |
Dimensions |
Width 23½, Height 35, Depth 17 (in inches) |
Wood |
Old-growth walnut (made from reclaimed wood) |
Country |
France |
Date |
Circa 1990 |
Price |
$200 each |
Description |
We
currently have in stock 10 Louis XIII style armchairs made in France in 1990
from old, reclaimed walnut. The age of
the walnut is not possible to determine but we believe it is at least 200 years
old because of the extraordinarily fine grain and rich patina. Like the 17th century models from which they
were copied, the construction of these chairs is faithful to the originals,
using top-notch joinery designed to last for centuries rather than modern glues
and brackets. As with almost every
aspect of the antique business, serendipity is responsible for our acquisition
of these chairs. We happened to come
upon a four-star hotel being remodeled and were able to purchase the chairs
right from their home base.
Because they were made so recently from old, solid wood, they are sturdy and stable as
well as delightfully comfortable despite years of loyal service in one of
Paris' finest hotels. While this style
of chair had its heyday during the reign of Louis XIII, its simplicity, comfort
and portability have made it a highly popular and enduring design for the 21st
century. In common with its forebears,
our more modern versions have simple lines with vertical posts running from the
stretcher up to the armrest in front and running the entire height of the back. The back posts curve slightly away between
the seat and the top of the back to ensure maximum comfort. Faithful to the early 17th century design,
the vertical members at the back are unadorned while all the other structural
members, including the "H" shaped stretchers, are made up of rounded
turnings but with rectangular shapes where the structural members join.
These chairs offer the ideal mix of comfort,durability, magnificent wood and classic design. Because they were used in hotel rooms they have a few dings and
nicks but retain their rustic charm. We
offer the chairs as originally upholstered,
although in some cases the fabric shows considerable wear and reupholstery
is recommended. The chair on this page has been recovered in muslin and
a pair of chairs has been covered in blue synthetic
leather and an oriental rug pattern matching that of
Bench 9302 (on Recent
Arrivals).
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Reference |
Gairaud,
Yves, Le Guidargus du Meuble Régional (Les Editions de l'Amateur, Paris, 1990);
Quette, Anne-Marie, Le Mobilier Français Louis XIII et Louis XIV (Editions
Massin, Paris, 1996); Un Temps d'Exubérance, Les Arts Décoratifs sous Louis
XIII et Anne d'Autriche, Paris, Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais (Réunion
des Musées Nationaux, 2002)
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Uses |
These
chairs are ideal as occasional chairs in a living room, library, den or
foyer. They would also work well in an
office, for example, for guests to be seated opposite a desk.
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