Antique Pair 18th Century Birch Baroque Italian Upholstered Dining Chairs, c.1780

Antique Pair 18th Century Birch Baroque Italian Upholstered Dining Chairs, c.1780

A rare and characterful pair of late 18th century Italian Baroque dining chairs, crafted in solid birch and dating to circa 1780. These chairs display the sculptural elegance and restrained ornament typical of provincial Italian Baroque furniture, combining flowing organic lines with robust country craftsmanship.

Each chair features a shaped crest rail above a finely cut splat with a pierced central motif, flanked by turned uprights. The frames retain their original hand-worked construction, with visible pegged joints, early iron nail fixings, and subtle tool marks throughout, all consistent with 18th century manufacture. The gently cabriole front legs flow into a well-proportioned stretcher base, offering both visual balance and excellent structural integrity.

The seats have been sympathetically upholstered in a neutral linen-style fabric, edged with traditional brass studwork, providing comfort while allowing the warm patinated birch frames to remain the focal point. The timber has aged beautifully, showing a rich, honeyed surface with honest wear, knocks, and surface variation acquired over more than two centuries of use.

These chairs would work effortlessly as occasional dining chairs, hall or bedroom chairs, or as decorative accent seating in a country house, townhouse, or layered eclectic interior. Their scale and sculptural quality also make them ideal flanking a console, refectory table, or farmhouse dining setting.

A genuine and increasingly scarce pair of 18th century Italian chairs, offering both decorative presence and historical authenticity.

Dimensions

Height: 1048 mm
Height to seat: 475 mm
Width: 480 mm
Depth: 411 mm

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