ELEGANT GONDOLA CHAIR, IN PART PAINTED Baroque, Venice, middle of the 18th century.

Walnut, in part molded, and carved with leaves and scrolls. The walls painted and decorated with trailing flowers and strapwork on a beige ground. Padded seat and backrest. Legs curving towards the side. New brown velour cover. Removable seat, opening up into a box-shaped compartment.
89 × 46 × 97 cm.

Some wormholes and losses. Paintwork later and in part rubbed. Structural reparation, Feets partly replaced.

In the 16th century, the gondola was the number one means of transportation on Venice's waterways: 10,000 were in operation at the time. They served not only for transportation, but also functioned as a status symbol for wealthy Venetians. They decorated their boats with gilding, covered their seats with brocade or silk and painted them in a variety of colors. The curved shape of the legs serves to stabilize the seat in the gondola.