Mahogany side chair with upholstered drop-in seat.
Identifier
FPF148
Title
Mahogany side chair with upholstered drop-in seat.
Date
1760-1780, part 1920-30
Description
Mahogany side chair with a pierced and interlaced splat and upholstered drop-in seat.
Full Description
This mahogany chair has a serpentine crest rail with moulded canted ends united by tapering back posts. The pierced, interlaced splat with a central loop motif and gothic detail joins a ‘shoe’ at the back of a tapered drop-in seat. The leaf-work carving on the splat is chamfered at the back to achieve an effect of lightness. The seat rail is moulded and square-sectioned. The chair is supported on square legs. The front legs have a moulding at the corner and are chamfered at the back. The legs are joined by square-section H-form stretchers and a higher stretcher between the back legs. The upholstery and red horsehair cover are modern.
This chair is interesting as an example made up by Frederick Parker & Sons to use as a pattern chair. The splat, the back seat rail, back stretcher and back legs are original and date to c. 1770. The crest rail, seat, front and side seat rails and front legs were made by Frederick Parker & Sons in the early 20th century.
This design of the splat relates to a pattern in Robert Manwaring’s The Cabinet and Chair-Maker’s Real Friend and Companion, 1765. A set of three chairs with a similar splat are in the National Trust collection at Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire (NT 342739). Another chair of a similar model is illustrated in MacQuoid, 1906.
This chair is interesting as an example made up by Frederick Parker & Sons to use as a pattern chair. The splat, the back seat rail, back stretcher and back legs are original and date to c. 1770. The crest rail, seat, front and side seat rails and front legs were made by Frederick Parker & Sons in the early 20th century.
This design of the splat relates to a pattern in Robert Manwaring’s The Cabinet and Chair-Maker’s Real Friend and Companion, 1765. A set of three chairs with a similar splat are in the National Trust collection at Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire (NT 342739). Another chair of a similar model is illustrated in MacQuoid, 1906.
Condition
The crest rail has been replaced.
The front and side seat rails and front legs have been replaced.
The upholstery and cover are replaced.
Arms were added at one time, now removed.
The front and side seat rails and front legs have been replaced.
The upholstery and cover are replaced.
Arms were added at one time, now removed.
Materials
Mahogany.
Beech.
Upholstery.
Beech.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 99
W. 56
D. 51
W. 56
D. 51
Marks
Stamped ‘5’ on inside of left back leg suggesting that the original chair was from a set of dining chairs.
Parker Numbers
OM 2208. See Frederick Parker Archive, Box 55, FPA050. Page 179.
Provenance
Made up by Frederick Parker & Son, c. 1920-1930
Notes
Robert Manwaring, The Cabinet and Chair-Maker’s Real Friend and Companion, 1765, plate 9, right.
A set of three mahogany and birch chairs, English, circa 1780 342739 | National Trust collections
Percy MacQuoid, A History of English Furniture: The Age of Mahogany, 1906, plate 185.
A set of three mahogany and birch chairs, English, circa 1780 342739 | National Trust collections
Percy MacQuoid, A History of English Furniture: The Age of Mahogany, 1906, plate 185.
