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Contemporary Klismos Chair in Stainless Steel and Fine Leather Seat Mesh

Price:$2,750

$3,500List Price

About the Item

We know about klismos chairs thanks to ancient Greek art, but how did this forgotten furniture item actually work its way back into our homes? That story begins in 1748 CE. Surveyors in southern Italy accidentally unearthed parts of an ancient Roman city, buried in layers of volcanic ash. The discovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum sparked a cultural obsession with all things Greek and Roman. In art, neoclassical sculpture flourished. In architecture, Greek and Roman Revival styles spread through major cities. After 1776, even the brand new United States jumped eagerly on the neoclassical bandwagon, seeing this as a way to create an ideological parallel between Roman and American republics. So, what exactly defines the klismos chair? This form is identifiable by three main features. First, the legs are curved and splayed, flaring outwards. In almost all versions of the klismos chair, this applies to all four legs (although occasionally you'll see one with only two splayed legs). Secondly, the klismos chair has a curved back, generally composed of two parallel, curving rails. Finally, look for a narrow, horizontal, and concave backrest. The curves are meant to contour to the human form and also give the chair a fluid and graceful appearance. This timeless design was first introduced into Western society way back in the 5th century BCE. That's around the same time that Pericles brought Athens into its Golden Age, and Socrates was wandering about debating the meaning of life. Yes, this chair design is about as old as the origins of Western philosophy. The design was popularized further in the 4th century CE, but it disappeared with Greek civilization. In fact, it was completely lost to time and not a single piece has survived. So, how do we know about it? Luckily for us, the Greeks depicted klismos chairs in their pottery and sculptures. There are also some Roman depictions of klismos chairs, all of which are found in Roman copies of Greek artwork. The most famous example of the ancient klimos chair may be the Stele of Hegeso. This tombstone was made in Athens around 400 BCE, and shows a woman named Hegeso seated in a curved, graceful klismos chair. This is just one many examples of the klismos chair in ancient art, but it's one of the best representations we've found.

Dimensions:
Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 25 in (63.5 cm)Depth: 30 in (76.2 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
Style:
Classical Greek (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Leather,Stainless Steel,Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
2000-2009
Date of Manufacture:
2008
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. There are some minor scratches in the polished steel, and there is some pitting under the leather seat ties, both can be polished out.
Seller Location:
San Francisco, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU989927974972

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