.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
These beautiful armchairs are clearly inspired by French chairs produced during the reign of Louis XV with their delicate carving, harmonious proportions and subtlety of line. The à chassis upholstery is also a fashion imported from Paris, where changing seat covers to suit the season was the prevailing style.
The production of furniture in Liguria became well-known for its quality after the founding of the Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti in 1751. These elegant armchairs are testament to the quality of Genoese furniture from this period.
A related set of four armchairs, although more plainly carved and covered, was sold from the Collection of Dodie Rosekrans at Sotheby's, New York, 8-9 December 2011, lot 316 ($34,375). Further related pairs of armchairs, covered in needlework and of very similar shape and carving, sold from a private Milanese collection at Sotheby's, London, 28 October 2014, lot 268 (£22,500) and on 4 July 2012, lot 19 (£37,250). The latter were made for the court of Louis XV's daughter, Louise-Elisabeth, Duchess of Parma at the Reggia di Colorno.
Further similar Genoese armchairs from Castello di Arenzano and Palazzo Reale are illustrated in A. Gonzáles-Palacios, Il Mobile in Liguria, Genoa, 1996, p. 188 & pl. 269.
The production of furniture in Liguria became well-known for its quality after the founding of the Accademia Ligustica di Belle Arti in 1751. These elegant armchairs are testament to the quality of Genoese furniture from this period.
A related set of four armchairs, although more plainly carved and covered, was sold from the Collection of Dodie Rosekrans at Sotheby's, New York, 8-9 December 2011, lot 316 ($34,375). Further related pairs of armchairs, covered in needlework and of very similar shape and carving, sold from a private Milanese collection at Sotheby's, London, 28 October 2014, lot 268 (£22,500) and on 4 July 2012, lot 19 (£37,250). The latter were made for the court of Louis XV's daughter, Louise-Elisabeth, Duchess of Parma at the Reggia di Colorno.
Further similar Genoese armchairs from Castello di Arenzano and Palazzo Reale are illustrated in A. Gonzáles-Palacios, Il Mobile in Liguria, Genoa, 1996, p. 188 & pl. 269.