Brass Chiavari Chair with Bat-Wing Crest and Original Upholstery, Italy 1960s

This chair belongs to the family of the Chiavarine, the light chairs from the Ligurian coastal town of Chiavari whose basic form Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi developed in wood at the beginning of the 19th century. In the mid-20th century Italian workshops translated the delicate construction into brass, and this is exactly the version shown here. The original green and gold "Made in Italy" label is still in place beneath the seat frame. There is no maker's or workshop mark, so the attribution is limited to origin, type and period; the construction and screw fittings point to production around the 1960s.

The tall backrest ends in a curved, bat-wing crest, beneath which five slender faux bamboo spindles with turned knops are framed by equally profiled side posts. The front legs are baluster-turned, the rear legs sweep backwards in a sabre shape, and a surrounding set of stretchers with a turned front rail holds the frame together. The padded seat retains its original upholstery in a coarse textured weave in mustard yellow with a brown weft, which picks up the warm golden tone of the brass. As an accent chair at a dressing table, in the bedroom or in the hallway, it brings a touch of Hollywood Regency to a mid-century or classic interior.

The chair measures 93 cm in height, 41.5 cm in width and 42 cm in depth, with a seat height of 46 cm. It is in good condition. The brass shows an age-appropriate patina with fine scratches and small spots of oxidation, mainly on the crest and legs; the original upholstery is intact and shows only light signs of use.