Bay Colony Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this wonderful vintage pair of intricately carved Chippendale side chairs. Stylistically, these chairs have so much going on. Each chair showcases a richly detailed pierced ribbon back splat with trailing foliage, tassel motifs, and acanthus carved crests. The carved ears on the crest transition gracefully to the molded stiles accentuating the fluidity of the design. The design reflects strong Rococo influence, drawing directly from mid-18th century English patterns.
The seats are upholstered in a fine white / cream colored damask fabric that is mainly a floral design but there is also a maiden carrying what appears to be a basket of eggs alongside a hen at the center of each seat towards the splat that we wanted to point out because it’s easy to overlook. The seats are in excellent condition and are framed by a foliate carved seat rail with bead molding along the lower edge. The front cabriole legs have boldly carved acanthus knees with carved curlicues on the outer perimeter & carved bellflowers at the center. The legs terminate in well executed carved ball & claw feet. The chair on the right has a tiny bit of wood loss on one of the talons but truly isn’t very noticeable. The rear legs are shaped and raked, giving the chairs excellent stability and balance. Beyond the obvious quality of the carvings, these chairs exhibit near-ideal proportions, an element often overlooked by most collectors, yet one that significantly enhances their overall aesthetic presence. The graceful balance of the proportion gives the chairs a natural elegance that distinguishes them from lesser examples. The chairs measure 23” wide x 23” deep x 43” tall with a 20” seat height.
