Chair Seat Cushion
17th century
Medium
Leather, tooled and painted
Dimensions
35.5 x 33 cm (14 x 13 in)
Classification
Leather
Culture
Italian or Spanish
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2436
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Chair Seat Cushion* the 17th century, likely crafted in Italy or Spain, the opulent decorative arts of Baroque Europe. Measuring just 35.5 x 33 cm (14 x 13 in), it was designed to adorn a chair seat, transforming everyday furniture into a statement of luxury and status. The small scale belies its grandeur, inviting visitors to picture it gracing a noble salon amid velvet drapes and gilded furnishings. Fashioned from leather that has been meticulously tooled—embossed with fine stamping techniques—and vividly painted, the cushion showcases advanced artisanal skills. Tooled leath...