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M. Markley Antiques
281.748.2266
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Antique Chairs - Item 3310
Renaissance Armchairs
(scroll
down for additional photos)
| Item 3310 |
Renaissance Armchairs |
| Dimensions |
Width 25, Height 50, Depth 19 (in inches) |
| Wood |
Solid Walnut |
| Country |
France |
| Date |
Circa 1880 |
| Price |
$8,895 |
| Description |
These
extraordinary, heavily carved chairs pay tribute to the Roman goddess Ceres
(also known to the ancient Greeks as Demeter), who was considered responsible
for bountiful harvests as a reward to farmers for wise and careful cultivation
of the soil. They evoke the Renaissance
tradition of eschewing Christian subjects in art and harking back to the pagan
rituals and deities of ancient Greece and Rome. While classical mythology is rich in stories about the ancient
gods and goddesses and their all too human predilections, those swirling around
Ceres and Demeter emphasize a kind heart and an interest in the well-being of
humans underlying her concern for annual, abundant harvests. Indeed, Ceres carries on in our modern world
as the origin of the word "cereal" for the breakfast foods made from
grain.
What
attracted us to these chairs, besides our #1 priority of sturdy construction,
was the intricacy and masterful nature of the hand carving of the back panels,
coupled with the rich color of the old-growth walnut. While a matching pair in design, the two carved panels are
distinct, each showing a different scene with Ceres as the focal point. The figures of Ceres, with her floral
crowns, standing in classic contrapposto poses while clutching samples of the
harvest, can be traced directly to sources in antique sculpture such as the
life-size statue of Livia as Ceres in the Louvre. In particular, we were captivated by the anachronistic and highly
detailed scenes of the medieval walled villages in the background, complete
with smoke curling from chimneys, while the ancient Roman goddess, scantily
clad in a time of global cooling, gathers grain from the harvest or carries a
cornucopia of ripe fruit. In these
tasks she is assisted by several charmingly depicted representatives of the
animal kingdom. On the chair at the
left in the photo, a goose and disproportionately huge snail are her
companions, while on the chair at the right, a dog accompanies her while a
disproportionately large squirrel observes from a tree branch.
The
overall structure of these armchairs has its roots in the 16th century in
France when the focus shifted from large, high-backed throne-like seating to
comfortable occasional chairs that were more portable and decorative. Particularly during the reign of King Henri
II and his Queen (the former Catherine de'Medici), who brought with her to
France the top artisans from her Florentine home, enthusiasm for Roman
mythology and its evocation in furniture reached its zenith. Especially on cabinets and chests,
highly-carved scenes such as these were taken from books of engravings
circulating among furniture makers throughout France. Indeed, we have not discounted the possibility that the panels
existed previously as part of another piece of furniture and were
"recycled" into these chairs, now antiques in their own right, in the
19th century.
In
keeping with 19th century and earlier styles where chairs were expected to be
backed against walls when not in use, the reverse sides of these chairs are
uncarved although the grain of the walnut is exquisite and too lovely to be
hidden from view. These chairs reflect
the standard construction designs of the 16th century, having solid, gracefully
shaped turnings used as vertical supports and, instead of a perpendicular
stretcher, a foundation in the form of horizontal mouldings connecting the four
legs at their base.
There
is an old repair to the figure of Ceres on the chair at the right, which we
have not tampered with in order to maintain the integrity of the piece as an
antique. These chairs are truly works
of art in the tradition of the finest French craftsmanship and reverence for
the beauty of old-growth walnut. |
| Reference |
Boccador,
Jacqueline, Le Mobilier Français du Moyen Age à la Renaissance, Editions d'Art
Monelle Hayot (Saint-Just-en-Chaussée, 1988); Burckhardt, Monica, Mobilier
Moyen-Age, Renaissance (Editions Ch. Massin, Paris, Undated); Thirion, Jacques,
Le Mobilier du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance en France (Editions Faton, Dijon,
1998).
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| Uses |
While
these chairs would be appreciated in most any setting, to draw attention to the
beauty of the carving we suggest that they be used in an entryway or alcove
with recessed lighting focused on the carved panels. Sturdy and eminently "sittable," these chairs could
benefit from seat cushions in keeping with the overall theme of Roman
mythology.
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