A fine pair of carved walnut salon chairs in the Louis XV taste, exhibiting the graceful proportions and fluid line associated with mid-eighteenth-century French design. Each chair is constructed with a shaped and molded frame, the serpentine crest rail centered by an exuberantly carved cartouche of scrolling acanthus and foliate ornament. The padded back is enclosed within a molded and carved surround that flows seamlessly into the stiles, which descend in a series of naturalistic curves to meet the seat rail.The backs are upholstered in a neutral, soft grey linen with self-piping, providing a restrained counterpoint to the richness of the timber. The upholstery is tightly tailored, emphasizing the undulating outline of the frame and the gentle bombe form of the back. Below, a carved and pierced splat features a stylized shell motif framed by C-scrolls and acanthus leaves, reinforcing the Rococo vocabulary of the design.The serpentine seat rails are similarly carved, with flor...