looking for insights re; this chair ?

Doing some work on this high backed, carved chair for a client. He has no history on it. No markings found (yet).

Anyone have any insights? Coat of arms info ?

Thanks

 

I don't do furniture, but the helmet on the guy on the back seems like a cross between the one often worn by Athena, with a face for the visor & the lion skin of Hercules, who never wears a helmet.




I don't know if this marks him as anyone in particular or just fantasy Trojan War type. (And before you start calling him a Trojan warrior, bear in mind that the Greeks won that war & most heroes depicted are from that side.)

 

I believe the figure is Pericles, Athenian statesman. I'd say the chair is oak, ca. 1900, utilizing some modified 17th century design precedents along with the expected late Victorian motifs. It could be from any locale from Brittany to New York.

 

Anybody think it might be a fraternity chair of some kind?

 

Pericles is conventionally shown in a Corinthian helmet.

 

A fraternity chair would carry fraternity's crest.

Debora

 

You're right it would have the letters.
I was looking at the shield. Was thinking of a lodge chair or the like. Elks, Masons, etc are considered fraternities as well aren't they? Not saying that this chair is for either of the two I mentioned.

Hmm - looks like the right leg is missing from the eagle.

 

Pretty generic symbolism -- eagle with fleur-de-lis.

Debora

 

I agree that it looks like oak; any chance that it’s walnut? Or, would that be a lighter wood?

 

Not oak and I don't think walnut. Looks like something more non-descript with a walnut stain. Maybe birch if American or beech if European.

 

I agree, this kind of Historic Revival furniture rarely had specific crests.

 

Apparently Alexander the Great is said to have worn a helmet with the head of a lion. I don't think the chair is necessarily referencing that. I just wanted to find somebody wearing a lion helmet so am posting here. I have found a variety of depictions of Alexander with a lion helmet and they differ quite a bit from each other.

This link goes to the Art Institute of Chicago, with a picture of an ancient coin in their collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/1992...aring-the-head-of-the-nemean-lion-as-a-helmet

And this is the picture: