Friar armchair (frailero). Walnut wood, textile. Spain, 16th century.

Friar armchair. Walnut wood, leather. Spain, 16th century. Armchair with arms and high back of the type known as “frailero”, which has leather with studs on the seat and upper part ...

Friar armchair. Walnut wood, textile. Spain, 17th century. Armchair with arms and high back of the type known as “frailero”, which has a textile upholstery with studs on the seat an...

Armchair with arms and high backrest of the type known as "frailero" upholstered in red and yellow textile, with fringes on the seat and the lower part of the backrest. The carved de...

Pair of friar armchairs. Walnut wood, leather, metal. Spain, 17th century. Armchairs with arms and high backs of the type known as “frailero”, which have leather with studs on the s...

1920s carved wood and leather friar's armchair.

"This rare pair of upholstered open armchairs relate to examples in museum collections in France, the USA and the UK. Few pieces of Renaissance furniture featuring ram’s head motif arm terminals survive as the chairs would have been in the ownership of the elite symbolising leadership and authority. The condition of these armchairs reflects their age and use and they have a rich colour and lustrous patina. The form of these chairs is characteristic of a stereotypical Renaissance model. The upholstered section of the backs are upholstered in wool with applied 17th century floral needlework faced with gilded studs and supported by square section uprights. The channelled tablet and stylised rosette incised curved arms terminate in acanthus capped carved rams' masks and are supported by column turned uprights headed by an entrelac collar. The ram is a symbol of leadership and authority and it also determination, action, initiative, and Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac. The seats are upholstered in wool with applied 17th century needlework faced with gilded studs and supported by tapering column/ring turned front legs and square section back legs. Some of the stretchers with moulded detailing. Standing on front ball feet. Exceptional original colour and patina. Henri II 1550-60. Condition: The chairs are both sturdy with exceptional colour and patina. One armchair with a splice on the rhs back leg and replaced but period front and lhs stretcher both bearing old nail marks, two other replaced stretchers and the back uprights bearing old nail marks indicating that they were upholstered at some point. The other armchair with an old repair to a break in the right back leg and an old patch near the end of the leg, replaced but period back and lhs stretcher, small patch to bottom of lhs arm where it meets the support. Old worm marks and some losses. Considering the age of the armchairs, these repairs and replacements are not unusual and consistent with the repairs on the related armchairs in museum collections. They suggest that the chairs either fell backwards at some point or someone leant back while sitting in them. Back Height 107cm, 42in, Seat Height 59.5cm, 23½in Width 60cm, 23½ in, Seat 59cm, 23¼in Depth including arm 59cm, 23¼in, Seat 49cm, 19¼in Provenance: Deaccessioned by The National Galleries of Scotland Bearing an old transport label from Alain Moatti (French architect) to Mrs Katz, London Literature: Related to : There are comparable armchairs in international museum collections dated to the second half of the 16th century. Most share the following characteristics with the above pair, the form, the ram's mask carved to the end of each arm, the curvilinear outline of the arm rests, the ring turned front legs as well as the plain square section back legs and plain stretchers. 1. Two stained glass windows...

Elegant Spanish Renaissance armchair from the early 17th century in walnut with a high back claw feet Very beautiful seat with a beauti...

Hand carved pair of Spanish 18th century 'Fraileros' chairs, with 19th century seating and backrest upholstery, joined to the walnut frame using the typica...