French Empire Dining Chairs in Brown Leather, Sets of 2

Rows of nailheads trace the entire outline of these French Empire Dining Chairs, catching light along every edge of the brown leather. That trim, over a walnut-finish frame with turned front legs and a scrolled crest, gives the seat its Empire bearing, martial and tailored, more library than salon. The hide is Sierra, a dark saddle brown that deepens where the light falls off.Leather at a dining table earns its keep, wiping clean and taking on character rather than wear. At 21 inches wide and a generous 27 inches deep, these sit larger than the average side chair, with a 39 inch back that anchors a long table. The depth means the chairs stand a little further out from the apron, so allow for that in a narrow room, and the extra width suits a table meant for long dinners.Brown leather and walnut belong in a room with some weight to it, a paneled dining room, a library that doubles as a table, or a stone-floored kitchen in an old house. They sit well with a plain oak or mahogany table and take the edge off a modern glass one. Two pulled up to a fireplace or a desk keep working when they are not wanted at dinner.Color variation is common and acceptable on vintage leather.