Modernab

Description

Architectural Art Deco chairs, wood and velvet, Italy, 1930s, Set of two.

A striking pair of Italian Art Deco chairs from the 1930s, built with the geometric confidence and architectural rigor that defines the period. Solid oak construction throughout, with a rich, warm honey-to-chestnut patina that has developed beautifully with age.
The design is bold and sculptural: stepped, chamfered corners on the tall back panels, layered horizontal slats forming the arm supports, and a striking stacked, block-like base beneath the seat — almost skyscraper-like in its geometry, very much in keeping with the Novecento Italiano taste for monumental, rectilinear forms. Each front leg-post is punctuated with a small hand-carved floral rosette medallion inset into a square reserve, a refined decorative detail against the otherwise severe geometry. The back panels feature fine inlaid stringing (a thin banded marquetry border) framing the oak panel — a subtle Art Deco flourish.
Seats are upholstered in a deep bordeaux/garnet mohair-style velvet, original or period-appropriate to the chairs, with visible age-appropriate wear consistent with an eighty-plus-year-old textile.
Construction shows traditional joinery — mortise and tenon joints, pegged corners, and solid oak throughout with no veneers on the structural elements. Some light surface wear, scattered small losses to the finish, and honest patina consistent with age and use; structurally sound and sturdy.

Dimensions

Height: 31.3 in (79.5 cm)
Width: 19.69 in (50 cm)
Depth: 17.33 in (44 cm)
Seat Height: 17.72 in (45 cm)

Design

1930s

Manufacture

1930-1939

Material

Wood and velvet

Location

Lonigo, IT

Condition

Our atelier carefully restored and reupholstered the chairs, with attention to structural integrity, materials, and finish. The process was guided by deep respect for its authenticity, balancing technical intervention and historical sensitivity.

Price