Openwork side chair (one of a pair)

Art Historical Context

This elegant openwork side chair, crafted by the renowned Parisian furniture maker Georges Jacob around 1785–90, captures the refined neoclassical tastes of late 18th-century France. Jacob, a favored supplier to the royal court, specialized in mahogany pieces that blended graceful proportions with intricate carving. The chair’s pierced backrest and slender frame reflect the shift away from the heavier Rococo style toward lighter, more architectural forms inspired by ancient Greek and Roman motifs, just as the ancien régime approached its dramatic end. The use of rich mahogany, imported from t...