Side chair
1815–19
Medium
Mahogany, mahogany veneer, gilded gesso, brass with maple
Dimensions
33 3/8 x 18 x 19 1/4 in. (84.8 x 45.7 x 48.9 cm)
Classification
Side chair
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, by exchange; and Bequest of Flora E. Whiting, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Moore, and Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, by exchange, 1996
Accession Number
1996.366
Art Historical Context
This elegant side chair, crafted by Charles-Honoré Lannuier between 1815 and 1819, exemplifies the opulent Empire style that flourished in early 19th-century America. Born in France and active in Baltimore, Lannuier brought sophisticated neoclassical influences from Napoleonic Europe to the young United States, blending them with local tastes for a distinctly American luxury. Produced during the post-War of 1812 era, when national pride spurred grand furnishings, this chair would have graced the parlors of affluent households, symbolizing refined status. Crafted from rich mahogany with matchi...