Item 3085 4 Gothic Dining Chairs with Coat-of-Arms in Walnut Dimensions Width 18½, Height 41½, Depth 17 (in inches) Wood Solid walnut Country France Circa 1870 Price $3295 Description These four chairs are made of solid walnut, hand-carved, and date from 19th century France.  Particularly interesting is the heraldic motif on the front of each chair back, featuring a fish and a crown.  The fish is a stylized dolphin, an allusion to the French word “dauphin” which means both heir to the throne and dolphin.  The reference dates back to Guy VIII, Count of Vienne (the principal city in the Dauphiné region of France), whose coat of arms included a dolphin and who had been nicknamed the “dauphin” from Dauphiné.   Guy’s descendent sold his holdings to King Philippe VI in the 14th century subject to the requirement that the heir to the throne assume the title “dauphin.”  Subsequent heirs to the throne incorporated the fish in their coats of arms with one of the best known being that of the future King Charles VIII of France (reigned 1483-1498, known as “the Affable”).  Perhaps if he had chosen a more fierce symbol such as the lion or salamander (see item 1027) he might have survived the fatal and reign-ending accident in which he hit his head while passing through a doorway.  In the case of these chairs, the dolphin itself is not highly detailed and, curiously, points to the right whereas typically in French heraldry the dolphin’s head points to the left.  The crown above the dolphin is a stylized depiction of that worn by heirs to the French throne up to the mid 16th century.  The incorporation of “fenestrage”  or patterns associated with stained glass windows as a background motif places these chairs firmly in the Gothic tradition of the region around Paris.  The construction in solid walnut, with a seat in trapezoidal form and rails connecting the bases of the legs, points in the direction of later influences such as the armchair or “caquetoire” popularized during the reign of Henri II (reigned 1547-1559).  In keeping with high-backed chairs of the Renaissance, the back of the chairs is not carved because they were expected to be placed against a wall.  Beautifully carved three-dimensional fleurs-de-lys top the vertical members framing the backs of the chairs.  The richness of the walnut is particularly pleasing in both color and dimensionality.  Overall, these chairs embody a wonderful tribute to France of centuries ago and its rich heritage of heraldry. For other pieces where the fleur-de-lys is prominent, see armchair 1023, chest 1034 and cabinet 1035. Reference Boccador, Jacqueline, Le Mobilier Français du Moyen Age à la Renaissance, Editions d’Art Monelle Hayot (Saint-Just-en-Chaussée, 1988); Rousseau, Francis, Le Grand Livre des Meubles (Copyright Studio, Paris, 1999) Uses These chairs would work well with a small dining table in a kitchen or breakfast area or in a library.