Large Gilt Louis XVI Armchairs, Cut Velvet (3072)

Price is for 1 piece, 2 pieces available

Large gilt armchairs with armrests — Louis XVI style, France, second half of the 19th century

This representative pair of large armchairs (giltwood armchairs) is a Louis XVI style work in giltwood, combining the moderation of classicism with the luxury of gold. The high, arch-crowned backrest is adorned with rocaille and ribbon carving — the work of a woodcarver; the armrests are covered with acanthus leaf carving, while the square corners feature stars and rosettes. The upholstery is luxurious gold and cream cut velvet (velours ciselé) with a rose and floral medallion pattern, highlighted with decorative trim; the fluted, turned tapered legs complete the noble, solemn silhouette.

Dimensions (for each chair): height 108 cm, width 63.5 cm, seat height 41 cm, seat depth 50 cm.

Craftsmanship & Period The chairs were made in the second half of the 19th century, when the revival of the Louis XVI style flourished in France — a return to 18th-century classicism after the abundance of Rococo curves. This style is characterized by a straight, architectural structure: fluted legs like antique columns, symmetry, rosettes, ribbons, and floral motifs. The giltwood elevates them from the salon to an almost thronelike representativeness — such chairs stood in the halls and boudoirs of grand houses, where luxury was self-evident.

Louis XVI era snapshot: Actress Sarah Bernhardt entered her dressing room after a performance and, with the theater candles still shimmering in her memory, slowly sank into the gilt chair — the cut velvet flowers beneath her palm like a warm, living field, the golden lines reflecting in the mirror’s light. Applause still echoed beyond the door, the room smelled of powder and roses. The form that received her was noble and soft at once, and she smiled, for here the chair continued the stage — it too knew how to capture a gaze.

Material and Carving The frame is made of wood with gilding (giltwood). The rocaille and ribbon on the backrest crown, the acanthus leaves on the armrests, and the corner rosettes are genuine figural and ornamental woodcarvings; the fluted legs complement the language of classicism. The gold and cream cut velvet fabric with a floral medallion adds a luxurious, almost theatrical atmosphere.

Rarity & Significance A coordinated pair of large gilt armchairs is valuable and representative — two chairs together form a symmetrical, noble salon composition. The price is for 1 chair; 2 are available (a pair).

Application & Interior Use The pair will be excellent for a representative living room, boudoir, by a fireplace, or as an accent in a large room, in a classical, Louis XVI, Baroque, or eclectic interior. Two symmetrically placed gilt armchairs create a luxuriously solemn accent.

Condition The chairs are in good, stable antique condition with a natural age-appropriate patina. The gilding shows some wear consistent with the period, where the base peeks through beneath the gold — this gives the object an authentic, lived-in character. The cut velvet upholstery is preserved with wear consistent with its age. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.