Side chair (sgabello a dorsale) 1871 - 1900

This elaborately carved walnut chair, known as a "sgabello a dorsale," was made in Italy during the late 19th century. The chair’s high back features a central panel adorned with scrolling foliage, and it is flanked by two female figures. The front legs and back legs are adorned with scrolling foliage and grotesque masks, highlighting the popular use of decorative motifs in Italian woodworking. The chair is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.