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$6,800
An exceptionally rare and romantic work of art, this 19th-century Italian Tête-à-Tête, also known as a Vis-à-Vis or Courting Bench, is the ultimate symbol of 19th-century salon elegance. Designed for intimate conversation, the S-shaped form allows two sitters to face each other while remaining gracefully close – a form invented for flirtation and sophisticated parlor discourse in Venice and France. The craftsmanship is nothing short of extraordinary. The serpentine rail is a continuous sculpture of deeply hand-carved acanthus scrolls, foliate swags, fruit clusters, and sea-shell motifs, culminating in two finely carved cherub or grotesque masks at the crests – one serene, one playful – typical of Venetian Baroque grotesque carving. The supports are pierced, winged griffin-like splats intertwined with dolphins and foliage, while the apron and legs feature further Renaissance arabesques, turned and block-carved balusters, and original brass capped feet. The wood retains its beautifully bleached, dry-scraped patina that reveals centuries of wormwood character and age, a finish highly prized by collectors of Italian antique furniture and impossible to replicate. Both seats have been newly upholstered in a refined natural Belgian linen, providing a serene contrast to the exuberance of the carving..
