A PAIR OF NORTHERN ITALIAN NEOCLASSICAL GILTWOOD BEECH ARMCHAIRS, POSSIBLY PIEDMONT, LATE 18TH CENTURY, in the Neoclassical style, a flower bloom flourish drapes over a bellflower carved back, centering a sprig of three strawberry leaf form, over a bead liner, and medallion upholstered back, now in chartreuse green velvet upholstery with matching silk gimp trim, verso matte and brilliant gilding is visible, over a shaped circular seat, above a repeating bellflower motif skirt, within sloping, bowed, upholstered arms, ending in acanthus carved, scrolled terminals, on fluted swan neck form supports, fronted by acanthus leaves, and recessed carved sides with scrolled details, joined to quatrefoil floret carved blocks, above circular leafy carved knees, raised on ring turned tapered fluted legs terminating in lotus leaf cupped ends, all on toupie feet; interior chair rails are ink inscribed with the number "10," a stencil number "318" appears on the interior of both rails, and the interior knee joints of both are incised with "X" and "V." Height: 40 3/4" Width: 26 1/2" Depth: 23" NOTE: A similarly designed chair seats the Marchese di Beccaria, Cesare Bonesana, in a portrait drawing by Jean-Baptiste-Francois Bosio (French/Monaco 1764-1827). The brown wash over graphite underdrawing on paper is currently held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Literary reference: Draper, James David, "Thirty Famous People: Drawings by Sergent-Marceau and Bosio, Milan, 1815-1818," The Metropolitan Museum of Art, vol. 13, New York, 1978, fig. no. 10, ill.

There are various chips, losses, gilt losses, over painted gilt and polychrome, some mild joint separation. Upholstery not original. Some mild, professional, 19th century repairs. One chair with an area of degradation under rail. Some wear to upholstery pile, mild stains, and fading, otherwise in very good condition, wear commensurate with age and use.

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