This elegant vintage Neoclassical design Chiavari Opera chair is in solid polished brass.  (One available).They were made famous when in 1953, the Kennedy’s used Chiavari chairs at their wedding, sealing the chair’s fate in history. The brass frame has a significant weight and detail both of which are signs of quality typical of Italian craftsmanship. The front spindle legs have a balustrade form finishing at the bottom to a point & pod typical of the period. The legs of the small detailed side chairs are slightly splayed, connected with pairs of cross supports.The back legs run continuously upward to make the `stile` of the chair insuring strength. The vintage silk upholstery is in fair condition with some marks on one of the seats. However the seat can be easily removed and re-upholstered by unscrewing the 4 screws from the frame. A great chair for a desk or dressing table.

Chiavari chairs are named for the Italian city where they originated. This little town in the north of Italy began producing these chairs at the beginning of the 19th Century. In 1807, Gaetano Descalzi designed a light, elegant, yet solid, cherry wood chair known as `Chiavarine`. The design was based on the Louis XV panel-back side chair however without the back upholstery. The chair eventually waltzed from the dining room to the ballroom at the Kennedy wedding.