Armchair - so called caquetoire

The front legs are turned, and bulbous the back ones are plain. They are joined by straight stretchers. The seat rail is carved with rosettes and leaves. The seat is trapezoid. The back support has initials OKF and PNE in a wreath of foliage and angel-heads. These are probably the monograms of the owner. Its pilasters are decorated with leaved tendrils, small boards and sacks. The top has voluted masks and scroll motifs. Its name probably originates from the French verb "Caqueter" = to chat, and it is also known as a "chaise a femme". Both suggest that this kind of chair was used by women members of rich families, when talking beside the fire-place. There are three variants that we know of at present: one has a pierced back support, one can be turned and the third has a very long back. The pieces described above belong to the third type. Companion pieces of the same quality can be found in Oslo and in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The slightly awkward shape, the motifs of the back support and the material (oak, instead of walnut) suggest that it was made at an early date, despite being mainly used in the second half of the 16th and in the 17th century.