An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Set of Four Armchairs and Setteec. 1715
These chairs belong to a suite that includes a settee (also in the CMA’s collection) and a tapestry made for a count and countess to mark their wedding in 1717. Furniture of this scale was usually placed against the wall in grand reception halls, more as a display of wealth than for use. Upholstered in Savonnerie tapestries, this suite was among the most treasured and expensive example anyone could own and was typically reserved for royalty. <br> <br>To add decorative and intellectual interest to the textiles, weavers incorporated symbols depicting various stories from the <em>Fables of Jean de La Fontaine</em>, published from 1668 to 1694 and largely adapted from Aesop and other early storytellers.
The Savonnerie factory can trace its origins to a small carpet studio which set up shop in 1615 south of Paris in a factory that had formerly made soap (<em>savon</em> in French), hence the name Savonnerie.
carved wood, Savonnerie knotted-pile (symmetrical rug knot) upholstery; wool, hemp
Overall: 120 x 201.3 x 55.9 cm (47 1/4 x 79 1/4 x 22 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a quiet corner of an opulent room, three chairs stand together like guardians of stories untold. They belong to an exquisite suite that also features a sumptuous settee—both cherished pieces that now reside in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Resting nearby is a tapestry, woven with intricate detail, created to honor the union of a count and countess on a joyous day in 1717.
These chairs, like silent witnesses, were designed not just for comfort but to declare a profound wealth that echoed throughout grand reception halls. Often, they were lined against the walls, their striking beauty an emblem of status rather than a place for weary guests to sink into. Upholstered in the splendid Savonnerie tapestries, they represent some of the most coveted treasures, with ownership largely reserved for royalty—the few who could claim such splendor.
But it was not merely their lavish appearance that captivated the observer; it was the intricate stories woven into the very fabric of those tapestries. The skilled artisans, aiming to enrich the textiles with layers of meaning and intellectual allure, interlaced symbols that depicted tales from the beloved *Fables of Jean de La Fontaine*. Written between 1668 and 1694, these stories echoed the wisdom of Aesop and ancient narrators, transforming the simple act of viewing into a fantastic journey through time and morality.
As one gazes upon these pieces, it’s hard not to feel a sense of peace, a calm connection to the past, where the threads of life and art intertwine, whispering the timeless fables of love, hubris, and humility. Each chair invites you to sit and absorb those age-old narratives, reminding us that stories, much like art, have the power to resonate with the human spirit, far beyond their woven details.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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