Pair of Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Klismos Style Side Chairs

Exceptional pair of dark red varnished side chairs: the wide curving back with frieze decoration, the raked and canted front and back sabre legs based on the remarkable ranked legs of the ancient Greek klismos chair (known from Greek Classical vases and carved stone reliefs).
The decorative scene on the back seat depicts two winged serpents centered by a laurel wreath. The meaning of this scene can be associated to the surface varnish decoration of the chairs: the varnish resin used is the so called ‘dragon’s blood’- a resin of dark red color, a widely used varnish resin by 18th century Italian violinmakers and cabinetmakers. The laurel wreath symbolizes Apollo who slew the dragon like serpent of the oracle in Delphi – a link between the material used and the narrative of the decoration. This subtle relationship adds to the charm of the design and represents the level of sophisticated craftsmanship in 18th century, Italy.
Both chairs have been newly uipholstered with a Rubelli yellow moirée fabric.