Pair of armchairs (part of a set)
Medium
Mahogany veneered with maplewood and mahogany, covered with modern silk brocade
Dimensions
Each: 43 × 27 9/16 × 24 in. (109.2 × 70 × 61 cm)
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
Italian, Piedmont
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, by exchange, 1987
Accession Number
1987.62.2, .3
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegance of 19th-centuryese interiors with this exquisite pair of armchairs, of a larger set crafted around 1835. Attributed to the visionary designer Pelagio Palagi in collaboration with cabinetmakers Gabriele Capello and Chivasse, these hail from Italy's Piedmont region—then a hub of refined Savoyard court culture. Palagi, known for his eclectic historicist designs, likely envisioned them for a luxurious salon, blending comfort with grandeur. Expertly constructed, each armchair measures 43 × 27 9/16 × 24 inches, featuring a mahogany carcass veneered with maplewood and mahogany for intricate figuring and durability. Veneering, a hallmark of high-end furniture making, allowed artisans to showcase rare woods economically while achieving a polished, shimmering surface. The seats and backs are upholstered in modern silk brocade, a thoughtful restoration that evokes the opulent textiles of the era. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, this pair—acquired in 1987 through a purchase and exchange involving J. Pierpont Morgan's gift—offers a tangible link to Italy's neoclassical-to-Romantic transition. Imagine hosting lively gatherings in these poised seats, where form met aristocratic function.
About the Artist
Filippo Pelagio Palagi|Gabriele Capello|Carlo Chivasse (Italian|Italian| ) · 1775 |1806 |1775 –1860 |1876 |1875
Italian, Bologna 1775–1860 Turin|(called Il Moncalvo), Italian, 1806–1876|