A Fine Pair of Italian Rococo Giltwood Armchairs Mid 18th Century, Neapolitan

each cartouche-shaped padded backrest entwined with foliate trails, the scrolled handholds on voluted supports with a pierced seat rail, raised on cabriole legs with leaf-carved feet.

The cartouche shaped backrest, the top rail entwined with floral trails and the delicate rocaille carving on the front seat rail and armrest supports of the present pair is comparable to the decoration on consoles attributed to Gennaro Di Fiore, one of the more accomplished Neapolitan intagliatore of the 18^th century. The outset, scrolled armrests, raised on voluted supports together with the pierced side rails at the juncture with the armrests are reminiscent of an armchair in the National Museum of San Martino, formerly the Carthusian Monastery of San Martino. See, E. Colle Il Mobile Rococò in Italia, Milan, 2003, p.85.