Late 19th Century Empire Style Pair of Italian Chairs “King” With “Vienna Straw”

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Fascinating and rare pair of Italian chairs with arms model “King” or “Antique Master”; we speak of rarity, because the chairs were created between 1870 and 1875 in an artisan workshop in the city of Lucca (Italy), and it is an exceptionality to even find a pair of such origin. They are made of the finest quality walnut; the comfortable backrest has a refined design and is finished inside, at the top, with an elaborate and extraordinary gilt wood carving formed by vine leaves. The legs and armrests have a simple and austere line; the front legs have two peculiarities: one is that, at the height of the seat, an insert of golden wood has been placed and the other is that the legs end with a small sphere of black lacquered wood, two pleasant and sought-after aesthetic features that make these chairs unique. Another important peculiarity of the chairs is the seat made of Vienna straw, this workmanship uses equidistant holes and a woven plant material (drawn guinea cane) that had been known since the time of the Egyptians, but it was from the mid-19th century that it became successful worldwide thanks to the Austro-Hungarian cabinetmaker Michael Thonet, who in 1842 created chair No. 4 with this technique for the Daum café on Vienna’s Kohlmarkt, a chair now counted among the icons of design history, which soon spread around the world and was named after the headquarters of the famous Austrian company. Italian craftsmen were also involved in the production of Vienna straw chairs, especially in regions such as Tuscany and Piedmont. Italian furniture makers were known for their attention to detail and craftsmanship, which made their Vienna straw chairs highly sought after. In the late 19th century, Lucca (Italy) was renowned for its thriving and sought-after furniture industry, including the production of Vienna straw chairs. Lucca, located in the Tuscany region, had a long tradition of the highest craftsmanship, which contributed to its success in the furniture industry. Lucca’s skilled craftsmen made chairs, tables, and other furniture using traditional techniques, often incorporating Vienna straw into their valuable designs. The manufacturing process involved weaving Vienna straw into intricate designs to create the seat and back of the chairs. These chairs were not only functional but also highly decorative, often featuring elegant designs that reflected the tastes of the time. Vienna straw, also known as “Viennese straw” or “Vienna net,” is a type of material traditionally made from the stems of the European blackberry plant, scientifically known as Rubus fruticosus. Lucchese artisans and master strawmakers worked the Vienna straw by moistening it with water before spreading it on the chair to be stuffed while patiently waiting for the material to dry and become strong and firm The master strawmakers used rush wicker to secure the Vienna straw in the channel of the chairs (see photo).. Vienna straw on the ‘surface might appear to be an extremely fragile product; in reality, it can withstand very heavy weight loads. Antique Master (or King) chairs are generally larger than normal, and would have been made for Masonic leaders, schoolmasters, council leaders, and heads of families; anyone who owned and sat in a Master chair ensured a position of authority over the group. The chairs have been treated with ancient manual restoration techniques by our team of craftsmen and are in excellent condition. We attach the original cushions to the chairs free of charge; you can use them as templates to make new ones. Measurements width cm.54, depth cm.49, height cm.91, seat cm.91. For all our shipments we use special packing materials (custom-made wooden crates, styrofoam, etc.) for maximum protection and safety of the items.