Research
Of walnut. The red velvet upholstered backrest with gold embroidered edge and two gold foliate embroidered vertical striped panels framed by a shaped carved back with scrolling to the corners and center. From the back issues curving arms supported by C-scrolls resting at each side on a carved female bust. The conforming upholstered seat above a similarly carved undulating front rail. The whole raised on four slight cabriole lets joined by a wavy box stretcher, the front legs terminating in flattened ball and claw feet.

Provenance:
Old diplomatic US collection formed of items acquired in Mexico and South America

This exceptional large scale late baroque armchair exemplifies the blend of foreign cultural influences on eighteenth century colonial Latin American furniture. These design precedents arrived primarily by way of Spain and Portugal, lasting from the 1690’s through to the development of neoclassicism in the 1780s. The general shape of the chair, with its wide rectangular back rest and wavy box stretcher, is of an Iberian baroque form, but the subtle scrolling throughout the chair anticipates the transition into the rococo style.

Full research report available.