I would very much appreciate information on this unusual armchair. I believe it might be European, perhaps of the arts & craft or art nouveau period. It is a very heavy piece of furniture made of pine wood. The decoration has been applied using the same technique seen on some Thonet & J.J. Kohn chairs. Below the seat it has two iron tenants to properly stretch & hold the chair. Many thanks for any information you might provide regarding provenance, style, period and value.
Martha, I agree with you 100%, the chair does not have the style of the art noveau period but has been decorated with a typical art noveau motif. In my opinion it does look older perhaps 1870’s during the revival period previous to the explosion of the art noveau. However, there might be an exception and is the ARTS & CRAFT prevailing in UK at the end of the XIX beginning of the 20th Century. Arts & Craft is characterized for the combination of gothic style with new elements such as this kind of decoration. This is common in fabrics, ceramics, and of course in furniture. As per the signature you mention, it is funny since I always thought there is a signature/mark within an oval shaped form in the right front leg but it well might be just my imagination!! Take a look at the attached picts. Perhaps it is just some node/ vein in the wood……..
You mean the reply above about the technique !! I am still looking for any similar chairs ect but have found none !! Which leads me back to the folk art theory. As for the art nouveau period,, could have been decorated then but the chair itself is not in that style !! That is why I think that someone just redecorated an existing chair. !! Have you looked well to find a name possibly ?? Some folk artists signed in the oddest of places !! Inside the legs ect !!
Thanks,, Interesting !! The technique is called sgrafitto which just means “scratched in” !! That explains why the chair is made of pine,,,its a soft wood!! It is usually done with a paint or stain alone and is quite well known in pottery !! This is done using the wood itself !! Have never seen one done like this !! It would be too labor intensive to be a manufactured piece so likely an independent wood worker !! Let me look around a bit !!
