antique french empire mahogany & ormolu mounted armchair early 19th century

This is a splendid early 19th century French Empire mahogany armchair with ormolu mounts and raised on square tapered legs that terminate in carved paw feet.

The mahogany is exceptionally beautiful in colour and has been embellished with strikingormolumounts typical of the era. In particular, the pedimented back features distinctive gryphon and anthemion motifs above the padded back.The open arms are carved with striking lion head terminals.It has been upholstered in a fabulous golden fabric, which gives the chair its regal look.Add an elegant touch to your home with this exceptional armchair.
Condition:In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and reupholstered in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm:Height 92 x Width 61 x Depth 62Height 45-Seat HeightDimensions in inches:Height 3 foot x Width 2 foot x Depth 2 footHeight 1 foot, 6 inches-Seat Height
Our reference: A1093
Mahogany
is probably one of the largest ‘families' of hardwood, having many different varieties within its own species.Mahogany has been used for centuries in ship building, house building, furniture making etc and is the core structure of just about every 19th century vanity box, dressing case or jewellery box. It became more of a Victorian trend to dress Mahogany with these decorative veneers, such as Rosewood, Kingwood, Burr Walnut and Coromandel, so that the actual Mahogany was almost hidden from view.Mahogany itself is a rich reddish brown wood that can range from being plain in appearance to something that is so vibrant, figured and almost three dimensional in effect.Although Mahogany was most often used in its solid form, it also provided some beautifully figured varieties of veneer like ‘Flame' Mahogany and ‘Fiddleback' Mahogany (named after its preferred use in the manufacture of fine musical instruments).Cuban Mahogany was so sought after, that by the late1850's, this particular variety became all but extinct.
Ormolu -(from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-caratgoldin amercuryamalgamto an object ofbronze.The mercury is driven off in akilnleaving behind a gold-coloured veneerknown as'gilt bronze'.The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding orfire-gilding, in which a solution ofnitrate of mercuryis applied to a piece ofcopper,brass, or bronze, followed by the application of anamalgamof gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead.Electroplatingis the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used onsilver, to producesilver-gilt..
Empire style,
is an early-19th-centurydesignmovement inarchitecture,furniture, otherdecorative arts, and thevisual artsfollowed in Europe and America until around 1830.The style originated in and takes its name from the rule ofNapoleon Iin theFirst French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon's leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to theBiedermeierstyle in the German-speaking lands,Federal stylein the United States and to theRegency stylein Britain. The previous style was calledLouis XVI style, in France.The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called "Directoire", after a goverment system.
Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires.The furniture was made from heavy woods such asmahoganyandebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials "I" and a large "N."
Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship.

Antiques.co.uk Ref: WGJTJ36RR

Width (cm):

61

Height (cm):

92

Depth (cm):

62

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