Armchair (one of a pair)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Carved and gilded frame; flat square back with serpentine sides and slightly arched serpentine top and lower rail, all carved with reeded molding clasped by acanthus leaves; supported above seat rail on short, straight struts pounced with diamond shape; padded arms on serpentine supports set back from fore legs and carved at the top with a floral rosette and at the lower end with a rococo shellwork cartouche; serpentine seat rail carved on upper border with reeded molding clasped by acanthus leaves; shell cartouches carved at center of front and side rails and above the knee of each cabriole fore leg; seat rails and legs pounced with diapered ground and carved with scrolling foliage at edges of rails and fore legs; rear legs carved at top and bottom with acanthus scroll; all four legs terminate in scrolled foot on short circular boss.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The fifty thousand objects in the Museum's comprehensive and historically important collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century. The holdings include sculpture in many sizes and media, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and jewelry, horological and mathematical instruments, and tapestries and textiles. Ceramics made in Asia for export to European markets and sculpture and decorative arts produced in Latin America during this period are also included among these works.

Metropolitan Museum of Art