The Chiavari chair is named for the coastal Italian town of Chiavari from which the design of the chair originates, at that time the chair was dubbed Chiavarine. Carving had been a specialty of Chiavari’s craftsmen since the year 1200, and it was here that in 1807 the chair came to life.
[clockwise from left: fancy chiavari chairs from 1stdibs: chiavari chairs from the 1940s, bronze chiavari chairs, Italian brass chiavari chairs, early carved chiavari chairs]
The chair was created by craftsman Giuseppe Gaetano Descalzi, and originated when the Marquis Stefano Rivarola brought samples of some very elegant chairs back from a trip to France. He gave the chairs to Descalzi for evaluation, who committed to make an improvement on the design and, among other things, changed the shape of the back and the legs. Descalzi wanted to create a lightweight, utilitarian, yet elegant, chair. As the chairs gained popularity, multiple new versions have emerged.
a gathering at the home of mme. brisson, 1893 by marcel andré bashet from chairs: a history by florence de dampierre
chiavari chairs at the kennedy wedding via
Chiavari chairs today come in a variety of finishes and materials including wood, aluminum, steel and resin. A few of the major benefits of these chairs are listed below.
- Chiavari chairs come in a wide range of colors to fit all decors. Some of the most popular colors include Gold, White, Silver and Mahogany.
- These chairs have a smaller footprint which allows for more to fit around a table.
- Depending on the material, you can stack between 7-10 chairs which allows for easy storage and transportation.
- Bottom line…the chair looks nice.