Rare Pair of 18th Century Style French Cathèdres Chest Armchairs

A rare and highly decorative pair of large French cathèdres chest armchairs, inspired by 18th-century provincial designs and retaining their wonderful architectural form. Beautifully lacquered in an muted blue with an attractively worn patina, these unusual chairs combine sculptural presence with practical storage.

Each chair features a tall moulded back surmounted by a shaped cresting centred with a carved volute motif. The broad, open arms are supported by elegant turned balusters, while the panelled fronts and sides enclose a generous storage compartment beneath the hinged seat. Their simple, architectural construction and original iron escutcheons lend an understated rustic elegance, making them equally suited to country houses and contemporary interiors. Wear commensurate with age and use as well as traces of old woodworm. Extinguished and treated.