Archaeologists found pieces of furniture that resembled modern armchairs during excavations in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Historians consider the first “armchairs” to be the thrones of the rulers and persons close to them.
Special attention to the decoration of this piece of furniture was first given in France. For the decoration of the seats, trellises, woven tapestries, and gilding over the gesso were used. Gesso was the name of the primer on which the paint was applied.
In the 19th century, Russia began to produce furniture in the “Jacob” style. It takes its name from the famous French furniture maker of the Neoclassicism period, Georges Jacob. The furniture made in his Paris workshop became fashionable in the Russian Empire after the Patriotic War of 1812, although it had been known before.
Jacob’s factory items were characterized by strict outlines, thin brass overlays, rounded corners, softbacks and seats upholstered in striped chintz. As a rule, furniture was made of mahogany.
A special place among the examples of the “Jacob style” was occupied by furniture decorated with inserts in the “verre églomisé” technique. A thin layer of gilt or silver foil was fixed on the glass with varnish. The lines of the future drawing were scratched on it; then, black paint was applied over the lines. The image on the front side of the glass was similar to that of an engraving.
In the early 19th century, in Russia, such furniture in neoclassical style was especially popular, that is why soon all similar furniture items were called “Jacob” or even “Russian Jacob” style. In Saint Petersburg, serf artisans according to French models made such furniture in the workshops of the Mayer brothers, in Moscow and the estates near Moscow.
At the end of the 19th century, reducing the cost of furniture production became more important than rich decorations. At that time, the factory bentwood method of making furniture appeared and cheap armchairs made this way quickly became popular.
The armchair displayed in the exhibition is also an item of mass production. However, the grade of its quality is higher than the standard. Armchairs with such decoration and upholstery could afford only wealthy residents of Tyumen, for example, merchants.
Special attention to the decoration of this piece of furniture was first given in France. For the decoration of the seats, trellises, woven tapestries, and gilding over the gesso were used. Gesso was the name of the primer on which the paint was applied.
In the 19th century, Russia began to produce furniture in the “Jacob” style. It takes its name from the famous French furniture maker of the Neoclassicism period, Georges Jacob. The furniture made in his Paris workshop became fashionable in the Russian Empire after the Patriotic War of 1812, although it had been known before.
Jacob’s factory items were characterized by strict outlines, thin brass overlays, rounded corners, softbacks and seats upholstered in striped chintz. As a rule, furniture was made of mahogany.
A special place among the examples of the “Jacob style” was occupied by furniture decorated with inserts in the “verre églomisé” technique. A thin layer of gilt or silver foil was fixed on the glass with varnish. The lines of the future drawing were scratched on it; then, black paint was applied over the lines. The image on the front side of the glass was similar to that of an engraving.
In the early 19th century, in Russia, such furniture in neoclassical style was especially popular, that is why soon all similar furniture items were called “Jacob” or even “Russian Jacob” style. In Saint Petersburg, serf artisans according to French models made such furniture in the workshops of the Mayer brothers, in Moscow and the estates near Moscow.
At the end of the 19th century, reducing the cost of furniture production became more important than rich decorations. At that time, the factory bentwood method of making furniture appeared and cheap armchairs made this way quickly became popular.
The armchair displayed in the exhibition is also an item of mass production. However, the grade of its quality is higher than the standard. Armchairs with such decoration and upholstery could afford only wealthy residents of Tyumen, for example, merchants.
