Side chair (sgabello a dorsale)

Art Historical Context

This elegant walnut side chair, known as a *sgabello a dorsale*, was crafted in late 19th-century Italy, likely in Bolzano or Milan. The form revives a Renaissance favorite, with its tall, sculpted backrest rising from a sturdy rectangular seat supported by splayed legs. Walnut, prized for its rich grain and ability to take fine detail, was the favored material for such furniture, allowing carvers to create lively surface decoration without additional paint or gilding. The chair’s back is enlivened with carved birds, theatrical masks, and flowing garlands—motifs that echo classical and Renais...

About the Artist

Alois Überacher|Fratelli Mora ( | ) · | – |

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