Pair of Empire style ormolu and lapis lazuli side chairs

The superb side chairs in this pair are crafted from ormolu and lapis lazuli in the Empire style. The chairs feature front legs wrought from ormolu and modelled as winged sphinxes—a form popular in Empire style art and design—with each leg terminating in a paw foot. The substantial rear legs of the chairs are crafted from lapis lazuli, as are the seat rails—which are mounted with ormolu stars and other emblems. The seat cushions of both are finished with cream upholstery, while the backrests feature lapis lazuli frames flanked by twin ormolu foliate columns. The lapis lazuli backrests are mounted with classicising ormolu motifs, including profile busts, winged goddesses, and stylised vases, while the centres of the backrests feature ormolu crossed arrows with Apollo masks within laurel wreaths.