Klismos side chair c. 1825

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This pair of Klismos side chairs, dating back to c. 1825, exemplifies the enduring appeal of classical design in furniture. The chairs, crafted by an anonymous artist, feature the distinctive curved, saber-like legs characteristic of the Klismos chair, a form that originated in ancient Greece. The simple, elegant lines and the use of intricate carvings on the back and arms evoke a sense of refined taste, showcasing the popularity of the Neoclassical style in the early 19th century. The chairs, now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art's collection, offer a glimpse into the past and the enduring influence of ancient Greek design on furniture making.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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The design of these chairs, with a concave crest rail and legs made of Greek crosses, is a modification of the ancient Greek Klismos chair. Note their resemblance to the Greek chairs featured on the Minton plates (on the wall above), as illustrated by John Moyr Smith. In 1815 Rudolph Ackermann published a drawing of a similar dining or drawing room chair in his famous Repository of Arts. Indeed, these two chairs resemble those from a large set purchased for the Telfair House in Savannah, Georgia and now on view there at the Telfair Museum of Art.