Louis XVI Walnut Armchair (1780-1790)

Beautifully restored late 18th century French walnut armchair with a backrest in the shape of a gendarme's hat. This so-called "à la reine" armchair is characterized by a straight backrest separated from the seat. This greatly improves seating comfort. This type of armchair took off during the reign of Louis XVI (1774-1792) and came in a variety of forms. It takes its name from the distinctive shape of the backrest, reminiscent of a French gendarme's hat in the late 18th century. This type of chair also remained very popular under the Directoire (1795-1804) and the Empire (1804-1815). The classical and symmetrical design of the furniture is characteristic of the refinement and elegance of Neoclassicism. The legs are richly decorated with rosettes and acanthus leaves. Condition: This armchair has been restored with attention to detail, leaving it in near perfect condition.