Lee Wright Antiques and Interiors

Description

An Exceptional, 19th Century Andalucia Chair, Inlaid with Parquetry of Bone, Silver and Hardwood, of Good Size.

This beautiful chair is very much in the manner of the folding chairs produced in the Nasrid era in the Andalusian workshops in and around Granada in Spain. Only two 16th century examples of these chairs are known, one in the Alhambra in Spain and the other in the Metropolitan Museum in Spain. Another example, potentially of late 16th century or early 17th century date was sold at Christie's on the 7th of April 2011 lot 119 for £385,250.

Our piece is beautifully inlaid with repeating geometric parquetry in the form of octagonal paterae created from bone and hardwood with additional stringing and silver highlights throughout. The slightly larger scale of the strung borders on our chair compared to the Christie's and museum models suggest a later date of 19th century.

An incredible amount of time has been spent in creating this chair. The design of this chair was inspired by the architecture of the Alhambra but when chairs of this form reached Europe they became intensely valuable and sought after by the wealthiest connoisseurs. The mosaic-like inlay used on chairs of this sort is known as taracea and was used throughout North Africa and Spain, particularly notable in the work made for such buildings as the Great Mosque in Cordoba and the Qasba Mosque in Marrakech.

This piece is a true masterpiece and is a great example of cross-cultural exchange in furniture with traditional African techniques and European ones meeting in a piece of superb quality. We are delighted to have this wonderful chair as part of our current collection.