<em>Armchair (Renaissance Revival style)</em>, ca. 1875. Ebony, various woods, ivory, mother-of-pearl, modern upholstery, 39 x 25 7/8 x 26 3/8 in. (99.1 x 65.7 x 67 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George N. Richard, 71.95. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.95_bw.jpg)

Armchair (Renaissance Revival style), ca. 1875. Ebony, various woods, ivory, mother-of-pearl, modern upholstery, 39 x 25 7/8 x 26 3/8 in. (99.1 x 65.7 x 67 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George N. Richard, 71.95. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.95_bw.jpg)

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What style is this piece?

This armchair is considered to be in the Renaissance Revival style. It was created around 1875, likely in Milan, Italy, but is based on Italian designs of approximately the 15th century. Artists of the Italian Renaissance, in turn, were looking to Classical art (ancient Greece and Rome) for inspiration. The figures on the side of the chair are quite Classical!

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What's the iconography about? Is it particular to the family? Or a popular story?

The imagery does not likely belong to a specific myth, story, or coat of arms but rather is a reference to Renaissance aesthetics from which this chair draws its inspiration. It is in the Renaissance Revival style.

Other indicators of Renaissance Revival furniture are classical motifs such as columns, capitals, and carved animal heads.

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Armchair (Renaissance Revival style)

Decorative Arts

This chair was probably made in Milan, Italy, where there was a long tradition of elaborately inlaid furniture. Several versions of the chair are known with American family coats-of-arms and iconography, such as busts of Indians, incorporated into the marquetry, suggesting that these chairs were made specifically for the American market.

MEDIUM Ebony, various woods, ivory, mother-of-pearl, modern upholstery

DATES ca. 1875

DIMENSIONS 39 x 25 7/8 x 26 3/8 in. (99.1 x 65.7 x 67 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS no marks

SIGNATURE no signature

INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

ACCESSION NUMBER 71.95

CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George N. Richard

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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CAPTION Armchair (Renaissance Revival style), ca. 1875. Ebony, various woods, ivory, mother-of-pearl, modern upholstery, 39 x 25 7/8 x 26 3/8 in. (99.1 x 65.7 x 67 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George N. Richard, 71.95. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 71.95_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 71.95_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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