Savonarola Chairs: The History of a Piece and How to Showcase It Today
Some chairs you recognise at a glance: crossed X-shaped legs, a curved folding line, an air of the Italian Renaissance. The Savonarola chair is one of the oldest furniture forms still used unchanged today — and it is precisely that age that gives it its charm. At Martello, visitors always stop in front of them: they look simple, yet they carry five centuries of history.
Where the name and shape come from
The chair takes its name from Girolamo Savonarola, the Florentine friar of the late fifteenth century, though its form — with curved, folding X-shaped legs — was already used in ancient Rome as the sella curulis, the magistrates' seat. The Italian Renaissance refined it: in solid oak or walnut, with a carved backrest and sometimes inlay. It was the chair of dignitaries, easily moved from one room to another.
What makes it special
The beauty of the Savonarola lies in the ingenuity of its structure: curved wooden slats cross and fold, yet the chair holds firm under weight. It is furniture and sculpture at once. The backrest, often decorated with a crest or a floral motif, turns a functional piece into one of character. Being solid wood, a good chair lasts for generations.
How to recognise a quality piece
Look at the wood: solid, with visible grain, not plywood. Check the joints — on an authentic piece they are tight and hand-worked, with no visible glue. The curve of the slats should be even and the carving of the backrest crisp, not worn. A good Savonarola folds and unfolds without creaking and stands perfectly balanced on every point.
How to bring it into a modern interior
The secret is contrast. A Savonarola in dark wood set beside a modern, minimalist table creates exactly that refined tension between eras. Use it as an accent chair at the end of a table in the dining room, as a single piece in a corner of the living room, or even as a desk chair with personality. A velvet or leather cushion adds comfort without hiding its line.
Care
Dust with a dry cloth and feed the wood with natural wax twice a year to keep its patina. Avoid prolonged direct sun and heat sources, which dry solid wood. At the joints, a touch of wax keeps the folding mechanism moving smoothly.
Every Savonarola chair in our collection is a unique piece with its own history. Discover them in the living room category and in the rest of our catalogue, then come and try them at the Martello showroom in Nimoreni, Ialoveni. We deliver throughout Moldova and Romania.