We advise you to read the entire description, as we try to provide detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our items. Fascinating and rare pair of Italian chairs with armrests 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 exception to find a pair of such origin. They are made of the best quality walnut; the comfortable backrest has a refined design and is finished on the inside, in the upper part, with an elaborate and extraordinary gilded wood carving formed by vine leaves. The legs and armrests have a simple and austere line; the front legs have two particularities: one is that, at the height of the seat, an insert of gilded wood has been inserted, and the other is that the legs end with a small sphere of black lacquered wood, two aesthetically pleasing and refined characteristics 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 Egyptian times, but it was from the mid-19th century onwards that it became popular 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, which is now counted among the icons of design history and was named after the headquarters of the famous Austrian company. 4 with this technique for the Daum café on Vienna's Kohlmarkt, a chair today counted among the icons of design history, which soon spread throughout 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. At the end of the 19th century, Lucca (Italy) was renowned for its flourishing and sought-after furniture industry, including the production of Vienna straw chairs. Lucca, located in the Tuscan region, boasted a long tradition of high craftsmanship, which contributed to its success in the furniture industry. The skilled craftsmen of Lucca made chairs, tables and other furniture using traditional techniques, often incorporating Vienna straw into their precious designs. The production process involved weaving the Vienna straw into intricate patterns to create the seat and back of the chairs. These chairs were not only functional but also highly decorative, often featuring elegant am 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 craftsmen and master strawmakers would work the Vienna straw by moistening it with water before spreading it on the chair to be stuffed, patiently waiting for the material to dry and become strong and solid The master strawmakers used rush wicker to fasten the Vienna straw into the channel of the chairs (see photo). Can straw, on the surface, might appear to be an extremely fragile product; in reality, it can withstand very high weight loads. Antique Master (or King) chairs are generally larger than normal and were made for Masonic leaders, schoolmasters, council leaders and heads of families; whoever 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. The original cushions are attached to the chairs free of charge; you can use them as templates to make new ones. Measurements width 54 cm, depth 49 cm, height 91 cm, seat 91 cm. For all our shipments we use special packaging materials (custom-made wooden crates, polystyrene, etc.) to ensure maximum protection and safety of the items.
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SILVER Seller in Prato, Italy
