Set consisting of 2 armchairs and 2 chairs, circa 1900-1920, made of oak with engraved medallions on the backs, Austria

This oak wood set consists of two armchairs and two chairs, each with a sculpted medallion on the backrest. The medallions are made in pairs, depicting a profile portrait: a woman and a man. Their hats, in Austrian style, help determine their origin. The medallions on the chairs are exact replicas, but smaller in size, of those on the armchairs. The backrests are cut into a scroll design. Aside from these medallions and the backrest carvings, the set is simple, intimate, and rustic, making it suitable for furnishing a chalet.

This set belongs to the Realist Art Nouveau movement. In this style, artists prioritize functionality, with decoration becoming secondary. Three adjectives help distinguish this rationalist Art Nouveau from the vegetal Art Nouveau: minimalist, geometric, and refined. This aesthetic is found in the works of the Arts and Crafts movement in England and in the creations of the Vienna Secession. The armchairs and chairs in this set were designed primarily for their utility rather than their decorative appearance. The set presents a raw and imposing structure, far from the delicate scrolls and tendrils of the vegetal Art Nouveau.

Price upon request