What defines the French Second Empire style of dining chair?

French Second Empire dining chairs, produced around the mid-nineteenth century, draw heavy inspiration from earlier Empire and Neoclassical designs. They are characterised by dark woods such as mahogany, decorative giltwood or brass accents, fluted or reeded legs, and rigid rectangular silhouettes.

What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century French dining chairs?

Primary woods included solid mahogany and walnut, frequently combined with hand-carved giltwood or applied gilded bronze mounts. Upholstery was executed using horsehair padding, steel springs, and real leather or silk damask secured with brass studding.

How do you identify authentic 19th-century French dining chairs?

Authentic nineteenth-century chairs exhibit hand-cut mortise and tenon joinery, natural shrinkage in timber frames, and hand-applied gilding showing age-related patination. Examining the underside reveals hand-sawn timber rails and original webbing or spring construction.

How do you style French mahogany dining chairs in a modern interior?

These chairs can be paired with a minimalist contemporary dining table to create visual contrast or placed around a matching classical mahogany table in a formal dining room. Their dark timber and gilt accents work well against neutral walls or rich wall treatments.

How should mahogany and giltwood dining chairs be cared for?

Maintain mahogany timber by applying beeswax along the grain twice a year, avoiding silicone polishes. Clean giltwood gently with a dry, soft brush without water or chemicals, and treat leather surfaces with a dedicated leather conditioner to prevent cracking.

for sale €14,625 $15,875

£12,500

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French Mahogany Armchairs

Id #SA1193241

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Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

Name: Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1193241
Price: 12500 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

A superb antique set of fourteen French giltwood flame mahogany dining chairs, circa 1860 in date.

The set consists of twelve side chairs with two matching armchairs. They feature shaped cresting rails with fluting over curved uprights with padded backs. They are upholstered in their original emerald green leather with upholstered backs above conforming stuff over seats. They are raised on tapering legs with giltwood Ionic order capitals and giltwood twisted fluting decoration to the front legs and sabre legs to the rear.

Transform the fine dining experience in your home with this absolutely fabulous long set of dining chairs fit for a King.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 95 cm x Width 62 cm x Depth 59 cm - Armchairs

Height 90 cm x Width 51.5 cm x Depth 52 cm - Side chairs

Height 48 cm - Seat height

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 2 foot x Depth 1 foot, 11 inches - Armchairs

Height 2 foot, 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches - Side chairs

Height 1 foot, 7 inches - Seat height

Flame Mahogany

Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works up easily, has a beautiful figure and polishes so well that it is an ornament to any room in which it may be placed." Matching his words to his work, Sheraton designed much mahogany furniture. The qualities that impressed Sheraton are particularly evident in a distinctive pattern of wood called "flame mahogany."

The flame figure in the wood is revealed by slicing through the face of the branch at the point where it joins another element of the tree.

Giltwood

There is no doubt that giltwood furniture is an expression of grandeur and luxury. The golden hue of these pieces comes from the application of real gold leaf—a highly valued material both then and now. When it comes to buying antique giltwood furniture for your collection, there are many different considerations to keep in mind, many of which come down to personal preference.

Origins of Giltwood

The gilt gesso technique appeared in England at the end of the seventeenth century with the work of Jean Pelletier, a Huguenot craftsman who received royal patronage at Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. James Moore, a royal cabinetmaker working in the early eighteenth century, expanded on this technique with increased drama and exaggeration to the carving. Throughout the Georgian era in the eighteenth century, gilded furniture was highly prized as some of the finest furniture available as it emulated the ever popular taste for French style and décor.

The Technique

Gesso is a type of plaster that is prepared of finely ground chalk, applied onto the wooden surface in a series of layers—at least fifteen layers were needed to achieve the desired thickness. Once dried, the craftsmen could cut into the new surface to create different designs. When the designs were complete, the gilding could be applied. To gild the surface, a red clay ground, known as bole, would be spread onto the surface to prepare for the laying of the gold leaf.

Our reference: A4839

Physical Dimensions

Height

95cm (37.40")

Width

62cm (24.41")

Depth

59cm (23.23")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated these French Mahogany Dining Chairs to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1193241

Dealers Internal Reference

A4839

Description

A superb antique set of fourteen French giltwood flame mahogany dining chairs, circa 1860 in date.

The set consists of twelve side chairs with two matching armchairs. They feature shaped cresting rails with fluting over curved uprights with padded backs.

“

They are upholstered in their original emerald green leather with upholstered backs above conforming stuff over seats.

Regent Antiques

They are raised on tapering legs with giltwood Ionic order capitals and giltwood twisted fluting decoration to the front legs and sabre legs to the rear.

fig 1. A set of fourteen French nineteenth-century mahogany dining chairs with green leather upholstered seats and backrests, decorated with giltwood carvings and reeded legs. — fig 1. Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

Transform the fine dining experience in your home with this absolutely fabulous long set of dining chairs fit for a King.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. A set of fourteen French nineteenth-century mahogany dining chairs with green leather upholstered seats and backrests, decorated with giltwood carvings and reeded legs. — fig 2. Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

Dimensions in cm:

Height 95 cm x Width 62 cm x Depth 59 cm - Armchairs

Height 90 cm x Width 51.5 cm x Depth 52 cm - Side chairs

Height 48 cm - Seat height

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 2 foot x Depth 1 foot, 11 inches - Armchairs

fig 3. A set of fourteen French nineteenth-century mahogany dining chairs with green leather upholstered seats and backrests, decorated with giltwood carvings and reeded legs. — fig 3. Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

Height 2 foot, 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches - Side chairs

Height 1 foot, 7 inches - Seat height

Flame Mahogany

Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works up easily, has a beautiful figure and polishes so well that it is an ornament to any room in which it may be placed." Matching his words to his work, Sheraton designed much mahogany furniture. The qualities that impressed Sheraton are particularly evident in a distinctive pattern of wood called "flame mahogany."

fig 4. A set of fourteen French nineteenth-century mahogany dining chairs with green leather upholstered seats and backrests, decorated with giltwood carvings and reeded legs. — fig 4. Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

The flame figure in the wood is revealed by slicing through the face of the branch at the point where it joins another element of the tree.

Giltwood

There is no doubt that giltwood furniture is an expression of grandeur and luxury. The golden hue of these pieces comes from the application of real gold leaf—a highly valued material both then and now. When it comes to buying antique giltwood furniture for your collection, there are many different considerations to keep in mind, many of which come down to personal preference.

fig 5. A set of fourteen French nineteenth-century mahogany dining chairs with green leather upholstered seats and backrests, decorated with giltwood carvings and reeded legs. — fig 5. Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

Origins of Giltwood

The gilt gesso technique appeared in England at the end of the seventeenth century with the work of Jean Pelletier, a Huguenot craftsman who received royal patronage at Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. James Moore, a royal cabinetmaker working in the early eighteenth century, expanded on this technique with increased drama and exaggeration to the carving. Throughout the Georgian era in the eighteenth century, gilded furniture was highly prized as some of the finest furniture available as it emulated the ever popular taste for French style and décor.

fig 6. A set of fourteen French nineteenth-century mahogany dining chairs with green leather upholstered seats and backrests, decorated with giltwood carvings and reeded legs. — fig 6. Antique Set of 14 French Mahogany & Giltwood Dining Chairs C 1860 19th Century

The Technique

Gesso is a type of plaster that is prepared of finely ground chalk, applied onto the wooden surface in a series of layers—at least fifteen layers were needed to achieve the desired thickness. Once dried, the craftsmen could cut into the new surface to create different designs. When the designs were complete, the gilding could be applied. To gild the surface, a red clay ground, known as bole, would be spread onto the surface to prepare for the laying of the gold leaf.

Our reference: A4839