Mahogany side chair with drop-in seat.
Identifier
FPF153
Title
Mahogany side chair with drop-in seat.
Date
1765-75
Description
Mahogany side chair with pierced gothic splat and drop-in seat.
Full Description
This mahogany side chair has an undulating crest rail with a central carved spray of flowers. It joins wave-moulded back posts with acanthus carving. The pierced splat has carved interlaced ribbons, flower carving and ‘gothick’ trefoil ends. This joins a ‘shoe’ on the rear seat rail, above a tapered upholstered drop-in seat, covered in a modern green material. The webbing and hessian appear to be 19th century. A fragment of horsehair at the back of the seat implies a previous or original covering. The chair is raised on slightly tapering and chamfered legs that are joined by H-stretchers with a higher back stretcher. The back legs are flared.
This chair is possibly inspired by designs for Gothic-style furniture published by Thomas Chippendale (1718-79) in the Director (1754-1762). Although it does not relate exactly to any one design, it includes elements from a chair-back in Plate XXI (left) of the 1754 edition. Comparable chairs with similar backs include: a side chair in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (W.73-1937); a chair at Creech Grange, Dorset (Country Life, 1931); a pair of chairs with a related top rail profile formerly with Christopher Buck Antiques (no. 277415); and chairs in Cescinsky, 1909-11.
This chair is possibly by a regional maker, suggested by its small scale, the thinness of construction, unusual flower carving and the lack of certainty in the drawing of the back posts and front legs.
This chair is possibly inspired by designs for Gothic-style furniture published by Thomas Chippendale (1718-79) in the Director (1754-1762). Although it does not relate exactly to any one design, it includes elements from a chair-back in Plate XXI (left) of the 1754 edition. Comparable chairs with similar backs include: a side chair in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (W.73-1937); a chair at Creech Grange, Dorset (Country Life, 1931); a pair of chairs with a related top rail profile formerly with Christopher Buck Antiques (no. 277415); and chairs in Cescinsky, 1909-11.
This chair is possibly by a regional maker, suggested by its small scale, the thinness of construction, unusual flower carving and the lack of certainty in the drawing of the back posts and front legs.
Condition
Repair to the top of the crest rail.
The seat frame is broken.
All legs are tipped.
Old repair to right hand back leg.
The chair has a good early finish.
The seat frame is broken.
All legs are tipped.
Old repair to right hand back leg.
The chair has a good early finish.
Materials
Mahogany.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 99
W. 56
D. 56
W. 56
D. 56
Parker Numbers
3004
Provenance
In the Collection prior to 1993.
Notes
Thomas Chippendale, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, 1754, Plate XXI (left).
Chair | Unknown | V&A Explore The Collections
‘Furniture at Creech Grange’, Country Life, 12 September 1931, p. 283, fig. 3.
H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1909-11, vol. II, p. 233, figs. 241-242; p. 234, fig. 243.
Chair | Unknown | V&A Explore The Collections
‘Furniture at Creech Grange’, Country Life, 12 September 1931, p. 283, fig. 3.
H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, London, 1909-11, vol. II, p. 233, figs. 241-242; p. 234, fig. 243.
