Artwork

Papier-mâché side chair

Papier-mâché side chair is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work depicts a side chair rendered in a painted medium, presenting a dark, polished surface that suggests a glossy wood finish.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having been part of the Robert Lehman collection before its acquisition.

The work depicts a single flower, serving as the primary subject of this 1830 painting. Although classified as a painting, the title identifies the object as a papier-mâché side chair, suggesting the floral image may represent a decorative motif applied to furniture or a still life of such an object. The piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, having been part of the Robert Lehman collection before its acquisition.

History & Provenance

Created in 1830, this work was originally owned by Robert Lehman. It depicts a flower and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1975.1.2069. The piece is attributed to an anonymous artist.

Although described as a painting in available records, the object is identified as a papier-mâché side chair. The dimensions of the work are recorded as 79.5 cm in height and 42 cm in width.

The papier-mâché side chair, dating to 1830, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed under the accession number 1975.1.2069 and was previously owned by Robert Lehman. It has been exhibited as part of the museum's decorative arts displays, highlighting its significance within 19th-century applied arts.

Context

A 1830 papier-mâché side chair by an anonymous artist resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Robert Lehman collection. Originally classified as a painting, it is described in scholarship as depicting a flower and is recognized as part of the museum's early 19th-century decorative arts holdings.

Overview

The work depicts a side chair rendered in a painted medium, presenting a dark, polished surface that suggests a glossy wood finish. The backrest is dominated by a large oval panel adorned with swirling, leaf‑like motifs and a series of small white spots that resemble pressed flowers. The seat features a woven, crisscross pattern, while the legs curve gently outward at their lower ends, giving the piece a light, decorative quality.

Technique & Style

Executed in paint, the artist reproduces the texture of polished wood through careful shading and highlights, creating a reflective surface. The carved motifs are rendered with fine linear work, and the white dots are depicted with a flat, matte treatment that contrasts with the glossy background, hinting at a mixed‑media approach where actual pressed flowers may have been incorporated.