Side chair
ca. 1795-1800
A wonderful example of Sene's finely executed carving is seen in the lions' heads that decorate the armchairs in this suite of four chairs. Each bears a proud, but individually distinct expression. The animal heads, paw feet, and vertical reed-like decoration are elements from the Louis XVI Etruscan style. These chairs, however, were made during the Directoire (1795-1799), the government of the French Republic. They exhibit a simple form and natural, ungilded wood that reflects the austere republican spirit and rejection of the excesses of the monarchy. Jean-Baptiste Sene, an important cabinet maker in the court of Louis XVI, survived the revolution by adopting the restrained style of the Directoire.
Mahogany and fabric
The Plestcheeff Collection
97.44.1.3