Pretty little chairs

My mother had the loveliest little chair with dainty legs and a lyre design for the back. The antique upholstered cushion was the perfect blue, with just a bit of fraying for character. It always had pride of place near the entry way. Obviously it was not meant to be sat on at all (or you might end up on your bum on the floor!) - it was just a lovely design object. As a result, I have a soft spot for small impractical pretty chairs.

 Elle Decor

The Paris apartment of fashion designer Andrew Gn is profiled in the October issue of Elle Decor. The rooms are opulent and full of layered details, and he has some wonderful dainty chairs. These are two photos from his apartment. He was his own decorator.

Livingetc (UK)

The October issue of the UK magazine Livingetc. features the Copenhagen home of the creative director of the fashion brand Day Birger et Mikkelsen, Peter Ingwersen. His rooms have a modern aesthetic, and show a wonderful sense of how to combine antiques along with the new. This wonderful little chair forms part of a decorative design along a wall with a rococo style mirror and modern lamp.

Stair Galleries in Hudson, NY has an auction coming up September 23rd that has lots of wonderful antiques. I was there today to see the preview, and there was this chair that inspired me to write this blog. This is Lot 131 and is described as French Japonisme carved giltwood side chair, attributed to Gabriel Viardot, Paris with an auction estimate  of $200 - $300. It has enough style, and even a quirky combination of European and Asian design to make one take notice. This would be a wonderful little chair to add decoration anywhere!

New Orleans Auction Galleries includes this pair of Edwardian, circa 1900, brass salon chairs. They look quite dainty, but as they are metal, perhaps not so much. I like the somewhat over tall backs which add style. These are Lot 1173 in the next auction to be held over three days, September 30 and October 1st and 2nd. They have an auction estimate of $300 - $500. Put these on either side of a console table in your entry way for some glamour.

Christie's New York sold this pair of 19th century Iberian polychrome paint decorated chairs for $250, off an auction estimate of $500 - $700. The decoration of these chairs is very interesting, and the upholstered seats look like a rich velvet. Very smart looking!

Bonhams sold this classic lyre back chair described as a Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany side chair, probably François Linke, circa 1900. The back is the design statement, and reminds me of my mother's chair. This sold for $1,342.

The next Belle Epoque sale at Doyle New York is September 27th. It includes this sweet Victorian black painted and mother-of-pearl inlaid diminutive side chair (Lot 173). They have the chair in a lot with a writing table that doesn't really seem to go with it. The lot has an auction estimate of $600 - $900. I like the chair on it's own, but could probably deploy the desk as well. I would like this in a hall somewhere looking it's own cute self!

Pretty little chairs are probably an indulgence for our feminine side, but they can grab your attention and be wonderfully decorative! They are usually not for sitting.