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Chair

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Decorative Art, 20th-Century Decorative Arts, 4th Floor
In the mid- and late nineteenth century, designers looked to nature in all its shapes for inspiration. This remarkable chair represents a sea serpent. The highly articulated spine, beginning at the top of the chair with the creature’s tail, forms the seat, while the central pedestal foot depicts the carved, grinning head of the serpent. Wings support the rest of the weight of the chair.
MEDIUM Wood
  • Place Made: Europe
  • DATES late 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 57 x 19 1/2 x 35 1/2 in. (144.8 x 49.5 x 90.2 cm)  (show scale)
    MARKINGS no marks
    SIGNATURE no signature
    INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions
    ACCESSION NUMBER 1992.205.4
    CREDIT LINE Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Chair: Chair, wood. Chair is in the form of a sea serpent with central pedestal foot formed by the carved, grinning head of a serpent. Neck curves backward and then forward to seat rail in S-curve. Spine of serpent forms central area of seat and curving upward. Back with scale-like elements with irregular edges flanking spine. At crest rail is a carved, forward-turned tail. Rear feet of chair are modeled as vaguely triangular fins with incised, scrolling lines. CONDITION: Normal wear and scratches, some separation at joints of wood laminations. Iron strap reinforces neck at base, on interior.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Decorative Art, 20th-Century Decorative Arts, 4th Floor
    CAPTION Chair, late 19th century. Wood, 57 x 19 1/2 x 35 1/2 in. (144.8 x 49.5 x 90.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman, 1992.205.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1992.205.4_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 1992.205.4_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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     <em>Chair</em>, late 19th century. Wood, 57 x 19 1/2 x 35 1/2 in.  (144.8 x 49.5 x 90.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce M. Newman, 1992.205.4. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1992.205.4_bw.jpg)