A pair of Italian painted and carved giltwood large armchairs attributed to Nicola Carletti, Roman third quarter 18th century

each with a padded drop-in back and seat; reblocked

Probably Cardinal Flavio II Chigi, Villa Chigi, via Salaria, Rome, circa 1765-1769 
Mario Tazzoli, London

A very important and rare model in overall good conserved condition. Joints sound and sturdy. Old very minor marks, chips and scratches and wear to gilding commensurate with age. There are some minor hairline construction cracks at the joints as visible from photograph, commensurate with age and usage, which can easily be filled or left. The gilding is slightly dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste. The rear seat-rail of one could possibly be a replacement. Very attractive detail to carving. The scroll on the front right leg of one armchair has a minor section chipped off which can easily be restored. Highly recommended. Both seats are covered with 18th century brocade, the back of the drop in back has the same brocade as the front. The underneath of the drop in seat is covered in later plain material of complimentary colour. The brocade on the four arms is distressed, and lacking on the front section. The front of each drop in seat has areas with splits and complete loss, as visible in the photograph, and will need attention, and reupholstering with complimentary material underneath, and possibly consolidation net over the top of each seat to help protect it for the future. The brocade otherwise is in good condition and the gold and silver areas catch the light. The colour is a delicate burgundy colour overall.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Carlo Lizzani, Il mobile romano, Milan, 1970, p. 39, fig. 76 and 77, p. 105, fig.181.
A. G. Palacios, Arredi e Ornamenti alla Corte di Roma, 1560-1795, Milan 2004, p. 204, no. 1, pp. 206-207.
A.G. Palacios, Fasto Romano, dipinti, sculture, arredi dai  Palazzo di Roma, Palazzo Sacchetti, Rome, 15^th May-30^th June 1991,Tav. LXIV, cat. 121, p. 178.

The quality and depth of the sculptural elements on this pair of armchairs in addition to the inventiveness of the design coupled with the extraodinary sculptural foliate motifs depicted in gilt and polychrome colours are a fine example of Roman ebanisterie in the third quarter of the 18th century.

This distinctive and unusual pair of armchairs with their exhuberant and refined naturalistic carving of flowers and foliage depicted in vibrant green are very much in the style of a chair by Nicola Carletti now in the Doria Pamphilj collection in Rome, illustrated by Alvar Gonzáles Palacios, op. cit, p. 204, reproduced here in fig. 1.

The present pair of armchairs can be compared to a series of chairs coming from Villa Chigi, via Salaria in Rome, which have been dispersed and can be found in various collections today. These chairs were an important commission and made for Cardinal Flavio II Chigi, a member of the celebrated siennese family and the original bills for this commission can be found in the Chigi archives in the Vatican Library in Rome. The similarity between this pair of armchairs and the related furniture from Villa Chigi enable us to date the offered pair to the third quarter of the 18^th century.
The armchairs are the work of the ebenista and sculptor Nicola Carletti who not only worked for the Cardinal but also for other princely families and who made at least two suites of seat furniture, eighteen armchairs in February 1768 and six in October 1769 for Villa Chigi. The gilders were Alessandro and Angelo Clementi and the painter was Pietro Rotati.

Carlo Lizzani, op. cit., illustrates two examples of seat furniture by Carletti, a chair from a set of eight (fig. 76) and a settee (fig. 77), now in a private collection documented, according to Lizzani, by the bills dated 1772-1773, but which we have not had the opportunity to verify. Lizzani, op. cit., also illustrates p.105, fig.181, an armchair conceived in a similar vein with green leaves and painted flowers, by the ebenista Carletti and the gilder A. Clementi, reproduced here in fig. 2.

The majority of furniture at Villa Chigi is decorated with trees and branches of leaves and flowers, the oak was one of the heraldic emblems of the Chigi family. One finds the family heraldic symbol on a pair of corner console tables carved in giltwood in the form of branches with green painted oak leaves and acorns, made between 1769-69, illustrated by A.G.P. op, cit,, p. 206-207.