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Painted Folk Art Chair-Ladder with Bird Motif, Dated 1830

$2,500
£1,897.26
€2,186.05
CA$3,532.10
A$3,784.59
CHF 2,030.17
MX$44,829
NOK 25,609.43
SEK 23,428.67
DKK 16,330.03

About the Item

This charming early 19th-century retractable chair is crafted in painted wood and ingeniously designed to convert into a small stepladder, reflecting the practical ingenuity of vernacular European furniture. The backrest and side panels are hand-painted on a rich green ground with a lively bird perched among flowering branches and scrolling foliate motifs, rendered in warm earth tones and soft ochres. The seat bears a painted date, “1830,” anchoring the piece firmly within the Biedermeier-era tradition of functional yet decorative domestic furnishings. Likely produced for a rural or alpine interior, such convertible chairs—often referred to as chair-ladders or metamorphic furniture—were valued for their dual purpose in modest households. The form features gently shaped supports, a lift-out or folding seat, and stepped interior construction that allows the chair to transform seamlessly into a ladder. The surface displays a well-preserved, time-softened patina consistent with age and use, enhancing its authenticity and charm. Both decorative and practical, this rare painted chair offers strong visual appeal as a folk-art object while also illustrating early 19th-century craftsmanship and everyday domestic life.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)Depth: 19.5 in (49.53 cm)Seat Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Wood
  • Place of Origin:
    France
  • Period:
    Early 19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Early 19th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1531248374162

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