Antiquary & Expert CNES

This small armchair in carved and gilded wood is a fine example of the 19th-century Italian taste for Rococo and Baroque forms. Its elegant curves, violin-shaped back adorned with a shell motif, armrests decorated with scrolls, and cabriole legs are reminiscent of grand state armchairs, here reduced to a miniature size.

The velvet upholstery, which is very worn, is probably original and contributes to the charm of this room.

At 58 cm tall, this chair is neither a real adult seat nor a simple doll's chair. It is most likely a Virgin's chair (sedia della Madonna) , intended to hold a statue of the Virgin in a chapel, a home altar, or during a procession. These miniature thrones were very common in Italian churches and convents, where the Virgin was depicted as a queen seated on a gilded throne.

Another hypothesis remains that it was a child's armchair or a display piece of furniture, but the richness of the ornamentation and the gilding suggest a religious use.

A rare and highly decorative object, it testifies to the mixture of religious fervor and artisanal virtuosity characteristic of 19th century Italy.