Grotto Pauly et Cie armchair, late 19th century

Carved wooden cave armchair, back and seat in the shape of a scallop shell or stylized flat oyster, armrests finished in a dolphin’s head, shell motif on the feet. The cave armchair is characteristic of the fanciful furniture very fashionable in the 19th century, Venice Maison Pauly et Cie. The taste for caves began in the Renaissance but developed with the aristocracy of the 18th century in Europe, in continuity with the Baroque and in the spirit of the giardani segreti. She has caves built with fountains, but also follies, pavilions, pagodas where exoticism remains a priority, the furniture must therefore fit perfectly into its environment. It was in Venice at the end of the 19th century that this furniture found its widest expression. The Pauly & Cie firm created models combining shells, seahorses, dolphins and conchs on new shapes such as rocking chair or confidant. It responded to the increasingly widespread fashion for winter gardens or spaces recreating fantastic marine life or an unusual atmosphere. Great personalities had them in their collection such as Helena Rubinstein, Maria Felix, Indira Gandhi or even Henri Matisse who represented this same model in one of his paintings.
End of the 19th century,

Hauteur: 86 cm.

Largeur: 65 cm.

Profondeur: 65 cm.

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