Neo-Rococo Medallion Chairs with Fine Wood Carving, 2 pcs. — Louis Philippe Style, France, c. 1850–1870 (5279)

The price is for 2 chairs (set — paire).

Neo-Rococo Medallion Chairs with Fine Wood Carving, 2 pcs. — Louis Philippe Style, France, c. 1850–1870

These exquisite dark green Neo-Rococo medallion chairs (rococo chairs) with a fine carved crown are an excellent example of Neo-Rococo or Louis Philippe / Napoleon III style (c. 1850–1870) salon furniture. Such rococo chairs with an oval, medallion-shaped backrest and a richly carved floral and volute crown were an integral part of elegant salons in the mid-19th century. The set includes two chairs.

Dimensions: Height 97 cm × width 48.5 cm × seat depth 43 cm × seat height 45 cm.

Craftsmanship & Period

The chairs were made in France in the mid-19th century, around 1850–1870, in the Neo-Rococo (style Rocaille, Louis Philippe and early Napoleon III) style, which revived the light, curved lines and natural motifs of 18th-century Rococo. The frames are made of dark wood with a distinct striped grain — most likely rosewood (palisandre) or solid wood stained to a rosewood tone. The oval, medallion-shaped backrest and the wavy seat band are crowned with rich wood carving — a central rocaille shell, surrounded by symmetrical volutes, roses, buds, and acanthus leaves. The chairs rest on gracefully curved cabriole legs.

Belle Époque Snapshot: Pauline Viardot entered her Parisian music salon and sat down at the piano, still holding a sheet of music. The late spring afternoon streamed through the window, and somewhere down in the street, carriage wheels gently rattled on the cobblestones. Against the wall, half in shadow, stood a slender dark wood form — an oval crowned with lushly intertwined carved flowers and volutes, almost like a frozen garden moment. Her fingers idly traced the cool, smooth carved wood crown, feeling beneath her fingertips each petal that the sculptor’s chisel had coaxed from the solid wood. In this graceful, singing form resided the entire spirit of the salons of that era—music, conversation, and beauty flowing into one another like a single melody.

Maker / Signature / Mark

The chairs were made in France in the workshop of a skilled woodcarver and cabinetmaker, as evidenced by the deep, plastic carving and the quality of the wood treatment. No manufacturer’s stamp or signature is visible or identifiable in the photographs — this is typical for most salon furniture of this period. Therefore, we do not attribute them to a specific manufactory.

Rarity & Significance

Pairs of harmonious Neo-Rococo medallion chairs with this quality of carving and preserved original form are increasingly rare on the market. A pair made concurrently and with matching upholstery is more valuable than chairs acquired separately.

Application & Interior Use

The chairs are an elegant accent in both classic and eclectic modern interiors — as salon chairs, bedroom chairs, dressing table chairs, or statement accent chairs. The dark wood and deep green velvet create a rich, expressive accent and serve excellently as a background for interior and portrait photography.

Gift & Personalization

Such a pair of chairs is a significant, lasting gift — an heirloom-quality item with a solemn, romantic character.

Condition

The chairs are in good condition, preserved according to their age. The wooden frames are stable, with a beautiful natural patina; minor signs of age are visible in places — small scratches, wear, and natural wood seams (see the top of the backrest in the photographs), characteristic of furniture over a century old. The carved details are well-preserved. The upholstery is green velvet with a decorative passementerie trim, well-preserved, with natural velvet wear and patina visible in places. The condition of the item is fully reflected in the photographs.