An elegant Dutch Directoire salon set comprising a settee, six chairs and two armchairs. All items are made of solid and veneered mahogany, decorated with brass bands and ebony plaquettes with brass inlay representing two griffins with a vase on the back. The chairs and armchairs have sabre legs, while the gondola-shaped canapé stands upon gilt and blackened mahogany claw feet.
Much like in France, the Dutch furniture industry went through a Directoire period, although it deviated somewhat from the French Directoire style. Certain patterns seem to be less common in the Dutch Directoire style, such as the fasces motif and Classic Greek vases and urns. Columns with bronze bases and capitals were more frequently placed separately in front of the side stiles, either front-facing or diagonally. Common motifs were palmettes, rectangular ribbed brass plates and lyres. After Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign, these were joined by winged sphinxes, lotus flowers and caryatids. These patterns emerged during the Directoire period and went on to define the look of the Empire style.
Dimensions:
chairs: height 88 cm; width 45 cm; depth 38 cm;
settee: height 81 cm; width 165 cm; depth 65 cm;
armchairs: height 89 cm; width 58 cm; depth 55 cm;
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