A Set of Thirty-four Dining Chairs

late 19th century

A set of thirty-four oak frame dining chairs (French, late 19th century) from the workshops of Jules Allard and Sons for use in The Breakers Dining Room. The set is composed of thirty side chairs (.1-.30) and four armchairs (.31-.34), with upholstered backs and seats in red silk damask trimmed with red braid and tassels. The side chairs have rectangular upholstered backs with square seats raised on curule (or “x” frame) legs that are molded and carved with an overlapping money pattern and gilt foliate bosses at the intersections, the legs are joined by a turned stretcher with caved gilt leaf forms, the legs end in gilt foliate toes. The armchairs are of similar design with tall carved seat crests of a wreath framed by scrolling foliage highlighted with gilding. The molded armrests are caved with foliage and stand on curved supports.

French

oak

silk damask

.1-.30 (sidechairs): 28 1/2" x 18 3/4" x 26"

.31-.34 (armchairs): 49 1/2" x 26 1/2" x 32"

Gift of Gladys R. Thomas, Cornelia Coudenhove-Kalergi, and Eugene Roberts, 1972.

PSNC.2510.1 - .34