Eclectic chair

The presented chair is part of a set purchased for the collection of the Museum-Castle in Łańcut (S.9958MŁ; S.9959MŁ; S.9960MŁ; S.9962MŁ; S.9962MŁ; S.9963MŁ). It was made in the 19th century, probably in the Austrian partition or in Austria. The clear structure and shape, the curve of the back legs stabilising the chair, the simplicity of the material (European ash), comfortable upholstered seat with springs, as well as the restrained use of decorative forms, only present on the backrest and the front legs - all this helps classify the chair as Biedermeier-style. Towards the end of the 19th century, this term was used for the new trend emerging in interior design in Austria, Germany, and the areas of German cultural influence in the time between the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the events of the 1848 Revolutions. The new fashion, promoted in the increasingly wealthy circles of the bourgeoisie, was a response to Classicism and the Empire style. Biedermeier was characterised by functionality and simplicity. Native wood species, including fruit trees, began to be used on a large scale The natural qualities of the material were showcased. Furniture designed for residential interiors provided comfort in everyday life and when spending time together with family and friends. Family life centred around the living room, where there could be no shortage of sitting furniture: sofas, armchairs, and most importantly, chairs. Due to the clarity and consistency of their structure and shape, Biedermeier-style furniture became the inspiration for Modernism and the furniture-making of the 20th century. Teresa Bagińska-Żurawska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3967