Armchair

Description

The Louis XVI armchair belongs to a set consisting of a sofa, four armchairs, six upholstered chairs and four stools or tabourets together with matching walltapestries (no. 246). The whole ensemble was purchased by the Burckhardt family of merchants for the 'Visitenstube' (reception room) of the Segerhof, built 1787 90, one of their residences in Basle. The sturdy but elegant oak frames of the chairs were surely made by a Basle craftsman, but the woven coverings were obtained from Elias Grellet in Aubusson in France. Animals, partly after La Fontaine's fables, are depicted on the seats, while genre scenes appear on the backs. The complete decoration of the Burckhardt 'Visitenstube', which was transferred to the Haus zum Kirschgarten in 1951, consists not only of the set of chairs and the accompanying tapestries, but also of oak panelling and carved overdoors, which were once partially gilded. It is a testament to the influence of the French style of living over the leading citizens of Basle in the years of Reform.