h: 2' 10-1/2" w: 2' 7" d: 2' 2"

Collection of Count Hector Economos. Acquired by William Randolph Hearst, from Arnold Seligmann, Rey and Co. Purchased by Norman Armitage from at the sale of the Hearst Collection in 1942.

From p. 289, (blue) catalog of the William Randolph Hearst auction LOT #lO6 Art. #11 AN X-SHAPED CARVED WOOD ARMCHAIR PARTLY POLYCHROMED Sicilian, Italian late XV C Folding in the form of an X, it has the legs and sides composed of lamelles joined together by circular cross-bars which end in human heads and heads of phantastic birds. Ex Collection Count Hector Economos. More information:
The wood was originally stained dark red, and over the last five decades has lost a little of this artificial coloring. The fitting of the superbly carved lamelles is still perfect. A removable dowel allows the splat at the back {somewhat in the form of an arm) to drop down from the left. Theoretically the chair can then be folded, but I have never tried. The hands at the back are of carved wood, thickened with gesso and gilded. The heads at the ends of the arms and the feet in front are also coated in gesso and gilded. (The gilding has nearly disappeared.) These should be the symbols of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but the artesan-artist who executed them did two human faces on the arms, and the Lion and the Eagle down below.