Pair of Ornate Hollywood Regency Polychrome Peacock Armchairs, Tony Duquette

Description

Pair of Ornate Hollywood Regency Hand Carved Polychrome Peacock Armchairs, in the Style of Tony Duquette. A pair of ornate Indian hand-carved polychrome peacock armchairs, in the style of Tony Duquette. Each chair is formed with a high arched back and broad curved arms, painted in shades of deep red, green, and gold. The backrest features a raised relief of peacock feathers, each individually carved and painted with a central blue eye pattern. The sides and seats are richly colored in red with small patterned gilt dots. The apron and legs of the chairs are carved to resemble the body of a peacock, with detailed feather scales in alternating tones of green and gold. The front legs terminate in stylized bird claws, while the front stretcher extends into a sculpted peacock head with a curved beak and crest. The overall design is inspired by Indian decorative tradition, where animal forms and vibrant polychrome surfaces are combined to produce highly expressive furniture. The craftsmanship displays attention to structural detail, with the peacock motifs integrated into the form of the chair rather than applied as ornamentation. The sculptural elements, including the raised scales and the realistic modeling of the bird’s head and feet, contribute to the distinct zoomorphic composition of the pair. Tony Duquette (1914–1999) was an American designer known for his highly theatrical interiors and decorative works that incorporated exotic motifs, bold coloration, and sculptural furniture influenced by Eastern art. His fascination with Indian and Oriental design is evident in pieces similar to these chairs. A comparable pair was illustrated in The Duquette Collections, Christie’s Los Angeles, March 2001, p. 50, showing a near-identical form with carved peacock bodies and painted feather motifs.

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