Walnut Savonarola Chair with Letters A.G.

c. 1520/1540

The curving X-frame design of this wood chair creates an hourglass silhouette from the front, and creates a bucket-like seat for the sitter. The front face of the wooden frame is carved with curving vines and stylized bunches of grapes and leaves, and the frame ends with clawed lions’ feet at the bottom. The seat and legs are made up of alternating slats so the chair could fold up. Imagine interlacing your fingers and then moving your palms back and forth—that is how the pivot of this chair works. The arms of the chair, which have a rounded knob at each front end, rest along the top edges of the slats. The back rail connects at the back of the arms. A crest at the center of the back rail is flanked by the capital letters “A” to the left and “G” to the right. The crest and letters are contained within a medallion-like form, and the sides of the back rail dip down to meet the arms. A worn, pale blue velvet cushion rests on the seat, and has tassels at the front corners. The chair is shown against a pale gray background.

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On View

West Building Main Floor, Gallery 22


Artwork overview

  • Medium

    walnut

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 67 x 102.3 x 63.5 cm (26 3/8 x 40 1/4 x 25 in.)

  • Accession

    1942.9.382


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Elia Volpi [1858-1938], Davanzati Palace, Florence; (his sale, American Art Association, New York, 21-25 and 27-28 November 1916, no. 349); purchased by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and Paris). Carl W. Hamilton [1886-1967], New York. Inheritance from Estate of Peter A.B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, after purchase in 1926 by funds of the Estate; gift 1942 to NGA

Associated Names

Bibliography

1942

  • Works of Art from the Widener Collection. Foreword by David Finley and John Walker. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942: 16.

1993

  • Ferrazza, Roberta. Palazzo Davanzati e le collezioni di Elia Volpi. Florence, 1993: 268.

Wikidata ID

Q62131158


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