Louis XV-era Hairdressing Chair, Stamped
Artist: Pierre Bara
A Louis XV-era walnut hairdressing chair, finely carved with naturalistic motifs. The cabriolet backrest, with its scalloped contours, features a recess in the center designed to cradle the head of the person having their hair done. The armrests are set back, and the legs end in leaf-motif feet that accentuate the Rocaille style already present on the waistband and the top of the backrest.
Louis XV period
Condition: shows signs of use
H. 83 x W. 63.5 x D. 55 cm
The hairdressing chair emerged in a very specific context: that of the transformation of living practices in aristocratic households in France, where private spaces took on new importance beginning in the late 17th century and especially during the 18th century.
By the end of Louis XIV’s reign, grooming had become a structured social ritual, often performed in public at the court of Versailles. Hair was then styled while standing or on seats not specifically designed for the purpose, and the first specialized chairs appeared in private dressing rooms but were not yet intended solely for hairstyling. The true development of the hairdressing chair took place under Louis XV (1715–1774), a period when interiors became more intimate and feminine. Grooming now took place away from public reception areas, and comfort and practicality were prioritized.
The hairdressing chair thus evolved into a specialized piece of furniture with a lower seat to facilitate the hairdresser’s work, a wraparound cabriolet-style backrest, and a lighter frame to allow the chair to be easily moved in front of mirrors. Under Louis XV, garden chairs served the same purpose but adapted to contemporary tastes with Rococo stylistic elements: carved wood, floral, shell, and foliage motifs, and a sense of lightness and movement. The use of this armchair gradually declined after the Revolution, when personal grooming became simpler and less formal.
Pierre Bara received his master’s certificate on June 28, 1758. His workshop continued to thrive as late as 1768. He signed high-quality Louis XV chairs—whether molded or adorned with a few small flowers—with large, irregular letters. Some of his cabriolet armchairs feature original, slightly jerky lines on both the backrest and the waistband, composed of interrupted curves. This cabinetmaker is also known for chairs with intricate decoration, sometimes reminiscent of the Regency style, such as the low, cane-seated armchair with a high back at the Jacquemart-André Museum in Ermenonville.
Louis XV period
Condition: shows signs of use
H. 83 x W. 63.5 x D. 55 cm
The hairdressing chair emerged in a very specific context: that of the transformation of living practices in aristocratic households in France, where private spaces took on new importance beginning in the late 17th century and especially during the 18th century.
By the end of Louis XIV’s reign, grooming had become a structured social ritual, often performed in public at the court of Versailles. Hair was then styled while standing or on seats not specifically designed for the purpose, and the first specialized chairs appeared in private dressing rooms but were not yet intended solely for hairstyling. The true development of the hairdressing chair took place under Louis XV (1715–1774), a period when interiors became more intimate and feminine. Grooming now took place away from public reception areas, and comfort and practicality were prioritized.
The hairdressing chair thus evolved into a specialized piece of furniture with a lower seat to facilitate the hairdresser’s work, a wraparound cabriolet-style backrest, and a lighter frame to allow the chair to be easily moved in front of mirrors. Under Louis XV, garden chairs served the same purpose but adapted to contemporary tastes with Rococo stylistic elements: carved wood, floral, shell, and foliage motifs, and a sense of lightness and movement. The use of this armchair gradually declined after the Revolution, when personal grooming became simpler and less formal.
Pierre Bara received his master’s certificate on June 28, 1758. His workshop continued to thrive as late as 1768. He signed high-quality Louis XV chairs—whether molded or adorned with a few small flowers—with large, irregular letters. Some of his cabriolet armchairs feature original, slightly jerky lines on both the backrest and the waistband, composed of interrupted curves. This cabinetmaker is also known for chairs with intricate decoration, sometimes reminiscent of the Regency style, such as the low, cane-seated armchair with a high back at the Jacquemart-André Museum in Ermenonville.
4 800 €
Period: 18th century
Style: Louis 15th - Transition
Condition: Condition of use
Material: Wallnut
Reference (ID): 1784955
Availability: In stock
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