Set of Four 18th Century Chairs, France, Cherry, Painted, Directoire, circa 1800

It’s a set of four chairs, all with different paintings of the Greek mythology.

Bourgogne (France)
cherrywood, oil colors
Directoire, circa 1800

Dimensions: height 84 cm, seat height 47 cm

Four rural French chairs made of solid cherrywood.
The legs are connected by cross braces, which contribute significantly to the design of the chairs both at the front and the back.
Very unusual back boards with four different figures from Greek mythology, painted in oil color.

These four chairs have an extraordinarily noble appearance despite their basic Provincial tendency.
For example, the rather rustic solid cherrywood appears Fine and elegant due to the elegant curve in the rear studs. The painting on the back board contrasts with the rather rustic struts of the chair frame.

Chairs like these are very rare. A comparable set of chairs (same basic form, also painting in the back board) is shown in the Musée Nicolas Rolin in Autun, France.

Condition:
Restored and ready to use. Old patina. Former wickerwork replaced by upholstery.

A similar set of chairs can be found in the Musée Nicolas Rolin and is illustrated in the reference book:
Éditions Massin – La Bourgogne Mobilier Régional p.59

Useful information about cherrywood:
The wood of the cherry tree ranks beside walnut wood among the probably most popular European noble woods. The reasons for this are simple: the wood has a beautiful, strong color, very good workability and it has always grown in the region. It belongs to the hardwoods, but is not as heavy and not as coarse-pored as oakwood, for example. The fine pored surface is well suited for shellac polishes.

Cherrywood is particularly important for antiques from the early classicist period. The cherry was absolutely popular both as solid wood and cut to veneer. At the time of the Louis XVI, entire interiors were made of cherrywood.
While in Germany and Austria cherry tree was primarily used as veneer, in France, especially in the provinces, tables, chairs, cupboards and chests of drawers were made of solid cherrywood.

The texture of the cherry tree is simple and straight, ingrown branches or unevenly grown trunks enliven the wood. The reddish-brown color of the cherry tree darkens over the years and develops a beautiful patina.

Cherry tree is still a popular wood not only for furniture making but also for handicrafts in general. It is also used to make musical instruments.
The cherrywood -used at the time our antique furniture was created- always came from the region where the furniture was made.