Side chair (one of four) (part of a set) 1758 - 1769

This side chair, part of a set of four, was crafted by Johann Michael Bauer in the 18th century. It embodies the Rococo style through its elaborate ornamentation. Note the grapevines interwoven within the lattice back. Throughout history, the grapevine has been associated with abundance and fertility, and more recently with the sacred. Think of the ancient Greeks and Romans honoring Dionysus and Bacchus, or the Christian Eucharist where wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. This motif connects the chair to a lineage of symbols rooted in ancient rituals and celebrations of life's bounty. The very act of sitting – of assuming a posture of rest or authority – taps into a deep-seated psychological need for stability and control. The chair, thus, is not merely functional; it's an assertion of presence, laden with symbolic weight that echoes through time, constantly shifting to reflect the sensibilities of different eras.