Set Of Eight Chairs With Crossbars From The Directoire Period

Set of eight Directoire-period crossbar chairs
An elegant set of eight Directoire-period crossbar chairs, crafted from molded and turned beech wood, dating from the late 18th century.
These chairs, known as “à la reine” style, perfectly illustrate the evolution of French furniture between the final years of Louis XVI’s reign and the Directoire period. Building on a design that first appeared under Louis XV and was widely developed under Louis XVI, this type of chair is distinguished by its sturdy construction, reinforced by an H-shaped brace, while adopting the more understated and geometric ornamentation characteristic of the late 18th century.
The Mobilier National collections preserve several examples of braces chairs made during the 1790s, featuring a design very similar to our set, with their turned, tubular legs, H-shaped brace, protruding connecting blocks, and rectangular backrest. These examples illustrate the widespread popularity of this type of chair in the late 18th century and early Directoire period.
Our set displays all the characteristics specific to this period: tapered turned legs with rings, an H-shaped crossbar, front connecting blocks carved with rosettes, rear blocks adorned with lozenges, and rectangular backrests with simple, balanced lines.
The chairs are made entirely of beech. They retain their original gray paint with a beautiful patina, as well as normal signs of wear consistent with their age. The frames are in excellent condition, with no wobble, making them suitable for daily use. The seats are firm, and the backrests retain very light padding.
Height: 83 cm