Object Description
This is a fine antique French Empire Revival gilt-bronze mounted mahogany armchair, Circa 1880 in date.
This superb mahogany arnchair features decorative ormolu mounts typical of the Empire period, with rosettes and anthemions. It isupholstered in a stunning green velvet. It is raised on square tapering front legs that terminate in lion’s paw feet, and sabre back legs.
It is an absolute masterpiece which is sure to get a lot of attention wherever it is placed.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 80.5 x Width 63 x Depth 54
Height 51 – Seat Height
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 8 inches x Width 2 feet, 1 inch x Depth 1 foot, 9 inches
Height 1 foot, 8 inches – Seat Height
Gilt Bronze / Ormolu – (from French ‘or moulu’, signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as ‘gilt bronze’.
The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.
After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt.
Our reference: A3395