Help!! identify this awesome hand carved beauty

I purchased what I was told an 18th century carved chair. No markings are on it, they did not know much of anything about it. I am having a hard time finding anything even close online. I am seeking a little help on identifying it. Thanks for the help

 

Looks really uncomfortable as seating. Maybe just a place to sit briefly to put on/take off shoes? Just something to drape a coat over? A "hall chair" to be used only by waiting visitors?

 

I'd describe this as a Black Forest chair, Baroque style.

here's a whack of them

https://www.pinterest.ca/jodyharmon74/sgabello-chairs/

 

Yours has a variation of the Mermaid motif so maybe it's a Sgabello chair

 

Mermaids? Where? Maybe if someone can lighten up the pictures a bit?

 

The legs/feet are carved sort-of grotesque mermaids, not beautiful maidens, more like sea monsters!

I think this chair is a bit later than 18thc, I'd say late 19th.

Very cool though!

 

Wow! Thank you all for the great information.

 

I think chimera.

 

Well kind of chimeras but very definitely fish tails!

 

What is your interpretation of the top section?

 

@blooey OMG, I meant Vibria. I have an entire thread on this Catalan dragon.

Don't know if that fits with the chair and now I see the tail does look more mermaidish. gad, this is subject I have discussed at length (on this board), but the info has escaped out my ears.

 

ah, here it is. https://www.antiquers.com/threads/millefiori-in-beastie-setting.29431/

Tail is definitely different.

 

Top is heraldic (familial) with that shield and top motifs could be a bit marine-fishy too perhaps - I can see the shell, but the upper left carvings are hard to make out - dolphins perhaps?

 

*off-topic* did anyone see the movie "Mermaid down"?

Probably birds ...hard to make out ...definitely "beaked" things, eh? I guess that's what made me think of Flipper

 

How about Leviathan?

 

My first thought was "oh hey, a SUPERNATURAL fan," but then I realized " no no no, that's not it."

I think the breasts are an issue for leviathan.

"lion's head with mermaid tail" keeps coming up "merlion" (Singapore), but that's a bit recent.