In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a decorative style was a huge success in France. The artistic discipline was closely related to society and was constantly evolving.
The wind of Impressionism marked an essential milestone in the history of art and touched on all new creations such as painting, creation and modeling, decorative art, design, and architecture.
What is the art nouveau style?
This trendy style appeared in the early 1880s. This new art focuses particularly on shapes and designs: designs are expressed, lines are sharp with ornaments and patterns.
Artists of that time used sculpted types or ornaments with forms of graphic art. In this case it became a deco style resulting in the reaction against Impressionism.
The field of new or modern art style was born, as each carpenter engaged in a new conception of art and oriented himself in décor and comfort. It mainly covered architecture, interior design, sculpture, stained glass and incidental painting. The creation is stylish in inspiration from women, leaves, flowers or symbolic evocations.
Artists were getting into design. The art of cabinet making, pottery and enamel came to life. They evolved and took on a geometric style.
In the 1900s, the manufacture of furniture illustrated the richness of art nouveau. Furniture was improving and diversifying. Many craftsmen were inspired by household supplies such as the bed, the wardrobe, the chairs and the sofa.
Seat materials and coatings
In France, Art Nouveau has favoured an interior decoration object such as furniture and glassware. Each interior décor illustrated the culture of the inhabitants and its occupants. Among the works of the 19th century, armchairs were part of it. They had their own importance in the culture and daily life of the French.
The chair is defined as a back-and-arms seat that replaced the pulpits (chaières) of the Middle Ages. Since then, it has been mobile and always present in the dining room and living room.
It has evolved a lot depending on the time. The material used in its design varied from one era to another. At the time of the kings of France, it was built from precious stones or carved wood, and often in velvet cladding fully decorated in royal houses.
During the Renaissance period, armchairs were built of wood and clad in leather, imitation or tapestries adorned with Arabic, whose art is worked with the utmost care.
Wood has been the main raw material when designing armchairs for years.
Art Nouveau is marked by several art creators. We can quote:
- The creation brought by the French architect and designer Eugène Gaillard, born in 1862 in Paris and died in 1933. He based his art on the use of woods as a raw material and was inspired by nature as an inspiration without redoing them in reproduction, but turned them into a motif.
- Michael Thonet is a German cabinetmaker and industrialist who marked this era on the creation of a curved solid wooden armchair and he has enjoyed great success in the world of cabinet making. The number 14 chair or "bistro chair" made it a great success. All this in order to bring another vision on the creation of geometric material. He used brown curved wood for his antique armchairs.
- Josef Hoffmann created an antique dining chair in early 1900. The work belonged to art nouveau and made from beech trees, painted brown lacquered, hand-polished. There are Viennese art nouveau armchairs made of black oak. There are also vintage coffee tables, curved wooden lounge chairs, office furniture, green or red beech living furniture, streetlights and the large Viennese suspension.
- Louis Majorelle, whose real name is Louis Jean Sylvestre Majorelle, is a 19th century cabinet artist. He has produced various types of art Nouveau-style art deco armchair-style chairs with high trim, the high-backed chair marked among many other creations.
The new materials used
The materials used are variable and multiple. Ranging from wood to the use of glass, through fabric and wrought iron, using stone, metal and ceramics. Art Nouveau models inspired all the seats of the eras that followed, as well as the art deco armchair in fabric often has art nouveau patterns.
For the woods, the most prized are tamarind, Brazil mahogany (plated or solid), or lemon tree which are exotic woods. There is also oak, walnut, pear, rosewood, ebony and sycamore.
The material has improved and varied according to the styles. These are recognizable by its curved line and decorated with mother-of-pearl marqueteries, ivory or metals.
The colors of art nouveau
Color contrasts play an important role in the creation of Art Nouveau. The creations are based on colorful elements such as blue, gold, green, grey, pink, mauve, beige, soft or pastel tone. The characteristic of the motif is mainly based on nature, flowers and mainly animals.
What is the price of an art nouveau chair?
This property has a unique value from its inception to the present day. It retains its wealth in its matter. Several companies have been inspired by these old works. From our day, the price of antique furniture varies according to the antique shop and the dealer.
Where to buy art nouveau chairs?
For furniture from this brand, they are often available in antique shops or at dealers. As for furniture of this style, many stores distribute them by taking inspiration from the old creations while keeping its shape and peculiarities.
Art Nouveau was the result of this thirst for modernity, living in a more modern living environment by taking nature as a reference. This concerned the majority of the rooms of the house, referring to the living room and the bedroom. It has to do with this rich art and the reach of all. At that time, the artisanal renaissance was not limited to France. In England, he became the Arts and Crafts movement in Germany and took the name Jugendstil. The concept remains the same and has been becoming a source of inspiration for new designers in our time.