Side chair (sgabello, pair with 1975.1.2038)
Unknown Artist
possibly 19th or early 20th century (with reused footborads, possibly 16th or 17th century)
Medium
Walnut, carved.
Dimensions
H. 101.6 cm, W. 34.3 cm, D. 35.6 cm
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
Italian
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.2037
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant Italian side chair, known as a *sgabello*, exemplifies the enduring appeal of Renaissance-inspired furniture design. Carved from rich walnut, it stands at 101.6 cm high, with narrow seat (34.3 cm wide and 35.6 cm deep) supported by a distinctive X-frame structure typical of sgabelli—lightweight chairs often used in pairs for dining halls, studies, or ecclesiastical settings. Part of the prestigious Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (5.1.2039, paired with 19751.2038), it reflects Italy's masterful woodworking tradition. Dating to possibly the 19th or early...