This striking pair of antique Flemish armchairs dates to the mid-19th century and features original 17th-century Baroque tapestry upholstery. Crafted from walnut with boldly carved scroll arms and barley twist legs, these chairs are as sculptural as they are storied. Upholstered in rare Flanders textiles, they offer both decorative impact and historical depth.
Carved circa 1850, each frame is executed in rich walnut with scrolled arms, floral block joints, and deeply turned barley twist legs joined by an H-form stretcher, a sculptural silhouette echoing 17th-century design.
What sets these chairs apart, however, is their remarkable upholstery: original 17th-century Flemish tapestry panels depicting lush fruit and foliate motifs in a faded yet luminous palette of indigo, rust, moss, and gold. Softened by centuries, the colors now read like brushstrokes, each chair a painterly artifact of textile history.
Measurements & Notes
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Dimensions: 44ʺH × 23ʺW × 26ʺD
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Seat Height: 18.5″
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Arm Height: 26.5″
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Seat Interior: 19″W × 14″D
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Origin: Belgium
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Period: Mid-19th Century
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Materials: Carved walnut, wool tapestry
Condition:
Frames are stable and in excellent antique condition with minor surface wear at the feet. The tapestry panels are original and unaltered, with expected thinning, fading, and exposed warp consistent with 17th-century textile age. These are rare, unrestored survivors with authentic patina.
📚 Collector’s Note
Woven in Flanders during the 1600s, the tapestry fragments likely once belonged to a larger wall hanging or ceremonial seat cover. The imagery is abundant fruit, stylized foliage, and oversized blooms and draws from Baroque themes of nature’s bounty. In the 19th century, repurposing antique tapestries onto seating was a practice embraced by connoisseurs, collectors, and aristocratic decorators who valued the romantic patina of age and the layered prestige it implied.
💬 June’s Thoughts
I’ve handled many antique chairs, but these still stop me in my tracks. There’s something soulful in the worn beauty of those centuries-old threads, faded but not forgotten. I love how the formality of the carving plays against the softness of the tapestry. These aren’t just statement chairs. They’re quiet storytellers, ready for your home.
