Side chair (sgabello, pair with 1975.1.2037)

Art Historical Context

This elegant *sgabello*, or side chair, from Italy's Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the enduring tradition of carved walnut furniture. Standing at 101.6 cm high, with a narrow 34.3 cm width 35.6 cm depth, it was designed for intimate settings, perhaps beside a scholar's desk or in a Renaissance studiolo. Part of a pair (with 1975.1.2037), its form recalls high-status seating from Italy's Renaissance era, blending utility with artistry. Dated possibly to the 19th or early 20th century, the chair incorporates reused footboards likely from the 16th or 17t...