Renaissance Cathedra with Perspective Motif

ORIGIN: FRANCE, LYON
ÉPOQUE: FIRST HALF OF THE XVI CENTURY

Height: 166cm
Width: 74cm
Depth: 47cm

Walnut wood

From: Château de Quintin’s ancient collection

This chayere or cathedra was made for a a high dignitary. Thus, each important residence had this prestigious seat. In a seigneurial dwelling, it could be isolated and surmounted by a canopy, or even placed on one or more steps intended to raise its owner above his guests.

This beautiful and sober cathedra, in sculped walnut wood, presents elegant ligns.

It rises on a trunk-shaped base whose sides are decorated with square panels molded and worked in relief. They are framed by fluted pilasters. The flap serving as a seat hides a chest.

The two flat armrests, independent of the structure, rest on columns turned into balusters to which their bulbous form confers much character.

The high back is framed by two balusters. The central panel is carved with a coffered vault with roses launched on fluted pilasters worked in perspective. This motif, very much used in Italy, present on a piece of furniture of French tradition, is a testimony of the migration of Italian decorations to France at the beginning of the 16th century through the Rhone valley. It is however quite rare.

The cathedra ends with an entablature obeying classical architectural standards.

This cathedra made of a beautiful walnut is a piece of furniture from Lyon in the early 16th century.