Louis XVI Dining Chairs with Oval Backs in Walnut, Sets of 2

Walnut frames these Louis XVI Dining Chairs, warm and open-grained around the oval back that is the period's signature shape. Cream upholstery fills the oval and covers the seat, so the wood reads as a drawn line around a pale center. The contrast between the walnut surround and the cream panel is the whole composition of the chair, and no other detail competes with it.

Each chair measures 19.5 inches wide and 23 inches deep, with a seat height of 21 inches. That seat height suits a standard dining table, and the narrow width means six or eight can sit along a long table without shoulders touching. The oval back keeps the visual weight low, so a full set reads as light rather than as a wall of furniture.

Walnut and cream sit comfortably against almost anything, whether the table is painted, glass topped or polished mahogany. Use the full set in a dining room, or take two into a bedroom or a hall where a pair of chairs is all the room needs. They pair with gilt mirrors, plain linen and rugs that keep their pattern quiet.