Pair of Armchairs Art Nouveau Mahogany Italy XIX-XX Century - Italy Late XIX-Early XX Century

Style: Art Nouveau (1890-1920)

Historical stylistic period formed from the end of the 19th century (c. 1890) after the Umbertino style and continued until the First World War.
The current was characterized by the floral influence and the soft and curved lines, a typical example are the "whiplashes".
The first signs of this new era came from architects such as Hector Guimard (1867-1942) who built numerous buildings and hotels, but also from people such as Arthur Mackmurdo furniture designer and Arthur Liberty late 19th century London industrial and merchant who began to produce upholstery fabrics with floral motifs with soft and sinuous shapes.
The 1900 Paris Universal Exposition was an important point for the development and affirmation of Liberty in the following decade.
Liberty was called in different ways according to the nation, universally known as Art-Nouveau and it is thought that Arthur Liberty derives the name given in Italy to this beautiful stylistic current.
The name Art-Nouveau, on the other hand, is thought to derive from a shop located in Paris called Maison de l'Art Nouveau which began to show off furniture items with a new and innovative design in its windows.
With the end of the First World War, the naturalistic period of Liberty ended and the Art-Decò style emerged with more rigid and geometric lines.
Find out more about the Liberty style with our insights:
Art Nouveau: birth and development of a style
Milan Liberty between flowers and colors
The Liberty of Carlo Zen
Decorative forms and elegance in a Liberty lounge
FineArt: Eoloe Cupido, Liberty sculpture by Luca Madrassi
FineArt: Nymph and Faun, Art Nouveau sculpture by Giuseppe Siccardi

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Main essence: Mahogany

It is one of the most precious and sought-after woods in cabinet making. It was discovered in Central America around 1600 and began to be imported to England in the 1700s. Much appreciated for its hardness and indestructibility, it became widespread following the blocking of walnut exports from France in 1720 and the consequent elimination of English import duties on mahogany from the colonies in America and India. The most valuable version comes from Cuba, but it became very expensive. At the end of the 18th century it began to be used also in France in Louis XVI, Directory and Empire furniture, its diffusion declined starting from when Napoleon, in 1810, forbade its import. It was generally used in the manufacture of elegant furniture, due to its characteristics and beautiful grain.

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