Ended Very Rare Late 1700s/Early 1800s Italian Savonarola Chair

Fine design and excellent manufacturing techniques are evident, and intricate deep detailed carving adorn this functional statement chair.
This is a rare example and unusually well preserved example of a very collected type of furniture.
Acanthus vines, flowers, leaves and geometric motifs combine to express the Italian craftsman's skills and the imagery of the Italian Baroque Period.

* we do not heavily clean objects for sale in order to preserve their patina and natural found state for our buyers*

This chair disassembles and folds up as it was originally designed to do.
The name “Savonarola” (the most common name for the chair)* derives from a chair found in the convent of San Marco in Florence which was used by the 15th century Italian Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola.

Folding seats or “scissors chairs,” like the “Savonarola” Chair, have a long history, dating back to at least 1567 B.C. during the New Kingdom of dynasties in Egypt. T
he early Egyptian folding stool, designed as a portable piece of furniture, was constructed from a pair of wooden frames with a slung leather seat.
Wall paintings in the Tomb of Amenhotep Huy (ruler of Lower Nubia Kush under King Tutankhamun) document the use of the folding stool during this period.

The use of the folding chair was adopted by the Romans and was known as a “curule” chair.
It was treasured by the commanders of Roman armies as practical, comfortable, and portable for use on long campaigns to the distant edges of the empire.
The name “curule” refers to the “sella curulis” or the “chair of the office” reserved for use by Roman officials, particularly when they were seated in public. The earliest images of these chairs can be found on ancient Roman coins.
Appraised for $3400

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We will contact you within 72 hours of your winning bid.