This pair of very unusual Armchairs is in walnut (and burr walnut on flat parts) with gold rechampi, moldings and carving decor of conventionalized flowers and gorgeous lion's head on a very structured high backrest.
Full armrests ending by a ball each. Tapered legs and gold rechampi as well resting on cubes.
They truly make a statement. This style was produce by a large, high-skilled "cabinet shop" one could find only in a major city.
The Aesthetic movement was born in England by mid 1850's and spread to the USA early 1860's. The movement argued that Art was not supposed to be utilitarian or practical. French writer Theophile Gautier summarized it (at the time) as "Art for Art's sake".