Chair
1560-1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Italian chairs made from vase-shaped boards of wood have long been known as sgabelli, derived from the word scanno (Italian for ‘stool’). They were often highly ornately carved, and would have been very uncomfortable to sit on without a thick cushion, held in position by a circular dished area carved into the seat. This sgabello formed part of a set that belonged to Jules Soulages (1803–1856), a lawyer from Toulouse. His collection was bought piecemeal by this museum, after being exhibited at Marlborough House between December 1856 and January 1857. Many pieces, including this example, were heavily restored, or made up of a mixture of old and new pieces.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved wood (walnut?), partly gilt |
| Brief description | Carved wood chair, Venice, ca. 1500. |
| Physical description | Chair: carved wood, partly gilt. The support in front is carved with strapwork, terminal figures, masks etc. with a shield of arms in the centre. The back is fan-shaped, with perforated acanthus scrollwork, flanked by terminal figures and surmounted by two sphinxes forming a pediment. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Bought for £15 RF 49/3234 Italian chairs made from vase-shaped boards of wood have long been known as sgabelli, derived from the word scanno (Italian for 'stool'). They were often highly ornately carved, and would have been very uncomfortable to sit on without a thick cushion, held in position by a circular groove carved into the seat. This formed part of a set that belonged to Jules Soulages (1803 - 1856), a lawyer from Toulouse, whose collection was bought piecemeal by this museum, after being exhibited at Marlborough House between December 1856 and January 1857. Many pieces like this example were heavily restored or made up of a mixture of old and new pieces. |
| Summary | Italian chairs made from vase-shaped boards of wood have long been known as sgabelli, derived from the word scanno (Italian for ‘stool’). They were often highly ornately carved, and would have been very uncomfortable to sit on without a thick cushion, held in position by a circular dished area carved into the seat. This sgabello formed part of a set that belonged to Jules Soulages (1803–1856), a lawyer from Toulouse. His collection was bought piecemeal by this museum, after being exhibited at Marlborough House between December 1856 and January 1857. Many pieces, including this example, were heavily restored, or made up of a mixture of old and new pieces. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | John Hungerford Pollen, Ancient & Modern Furniture & Woodwork (London: George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode, 1874), 109.
“5683. ’59. CHAIR. Carved walnut wood, partly gilt. The support in front carved, with strap work, terminal figures, masks, &c., with a shield of arms in the centre ; the back fan-shaped, with perforated acanthus scroll work, flanked by terminal figures, and surmounted by two sphinxes forming a pediment. Italian (Venetian). About 1560. H. 4 ft., W. 20 in. Bought (Soulages Coll.), 15l.” |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 5683-1859 |
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| Record created | May 11, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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