French Japonisme Side Chairs by Gabriel Viardot

Set (6) late 19th century French Japonisme side chairs, by…
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Set (6) late 19th century French Japonisme side chairs, by Gabriel Viardot. Comprising three pairs, each with a well carved dragon above a pierced splat with various geometric motifs, above a square seat upholstered in yellow & polychrome-embroidered silk. The pierced apron with matching fretworks on square section legs with claw feet. Each stamped 'G. Viardot.', height 91.5 cm, width 43.5 cm, depth 45 cm. provenance: Christie's London, The Opulent Eye, 10th Sept. 2013 (lot 118). Estate late John Schaeffer.

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  • Splat - The central back support between the top rail and the seat in chairs and couches. They may take a variety of forms, and run either horizontally or vertically.
  • Apron - A decorative wooden panel that sits underneath the top surface of a table or chair, and unites the top of the piece with the legs, running at right angles to the underside. On carcase furniture such as a chest or wardrobe, the apron sits below the drawers or doors and attaches to the legs.

    On carcase furniture without legs the panel under the drawers or doors sits on the floor and is termed a plinth.

    An apron can provide a decorative touch to an otherwise unadorned piece of furniture and at the same time provide structural support and strength. They can be carved or pierced and quite elaborate.
  • Signed or Stamped - A signed piece of furniture may mean that the maker has signed (and hopefully dated) the piece in the same way that we sign a cheque, but more likely, that it bears evidence of the name of the maker, wholesaler or retailer as a paper label, metal plaque, impressed into the timber or in later pieces after about 1880, stamped onto the timber with an ink stamp.

    The 'signature' or stamp will always be in an unobtrusive position: under the top of a table, on the underside of the rails of a chair, inside a drawer or on the back.

    The fact that a piece is 'signed' considerably enhances its value. Signed Australian furniture is extremely rare, and for imported furniture, it is a mark of quality of the item, as only the items by the top makers or retailers were 'signed'
  • Claw Feet - Carved or cast in the shape of a lion's claw or the talons of other more fabulous beasts. They may be found on chair and table legs, supporting platform bases, and cabinets in the Classical Revival manner. Claw feet are not uncommon on Australian furniture made throughout the 1850s and 1860s, though, as with all forms of carving, the deeper and richer the claws are carved, the earlier the piece is likely to be.
  • Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.
  • Pierced Decoration - Ornamental woodwork with part of the background cut through and removed to produce an open-work pattern.

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