Mahogany side chair with pierced gothic splat.
Identifier
FPF156
Title
Mahogany side chair with pierced gothic splat.
Date
1765-1775
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 bellflower pendant and C-scrolls, and pointed corners carved with acanthus leaves. An interlaced gothic-style pierced splat has a pierced trefoil at the base and fits into a ‘shoe’ on the rear seat rail. The splat is flanked by flared and tapering back posts. A tapered drop-in seat is bordered by square moulded seat rails. The chair is raised on square-section and chamfered legs joined by an H-stretcher, with a rear stretcher set slightly higher. The back legs are flared. The upholstery is late-19th century and the cover is a modern green fabric.
The design for the splat is from Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director (1762), plate XVI. This pattern book, first issued in 1754, was very influential, displaying a full range of furniture in the most fashionable styles. In many of his designs Chippendale created a fusion of rococo, Chinese and gothic styles to form the basis of the ‘English’ rococo. The 1754 edition printed a list of its subscribers at the front, which included the most prominent of Chippendale’s cabinet- and chair-making contemporaries, such as Richard Gillow, William Ince (Ince & Mayhew), Paul Saunders, and Edward Elwick and Richard Wright (Wright & Elwick) (Gilbert, 1978).
This chair is in good original condition, and the finish is early, i.e. it has not been given the shiny French polish finish often used by the antiques trade in the 19th century.
The design for the splat is from Thomas Chippendale’s The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director (1762), plate XVI. This pattern book, first issued in 1754, was very influential, displaying a full range of furniture in the most fashionable styles. In many of his designs Chippendale created a fusion of rococo, Chinese and gothic styles to form the basis of the ‘English’ rococo. The 1754 edition printed a list of its subscribers at the front, which included the most prominent of Chippendale’s cabinet- and chair-making contemporaries, such as Richard Gillow, William Ince (Ince & Mayhew), Paul Saunders, and Edward Elwick and Richard Wright (Wright & Elwick) (Gilbert, 1978).
This chair is in good original condition, and the finish is early, i.e. it has not been given the shiny French polish finish often used by the antiques trade in the 19th century.
Condition
Right corner of crest is missing a small piece of carving.
Front and left seat rails were replaced on 18th May 1921 for £1.15.0.
One foot tipped.
The seat and upholstery are replaced.
Front and left seat rails were replaced on 18th May 1921 for £1.15.0.
One foot tipped.
The seat and upholstery are replaced.
Materials
Mahogany
The replacement front seat rail is American walnut.
Upholstery.
The replacement front seat rail is American walnut.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 99
W. 56
D. 56
W. 56
D. 56
Parker Numbers
3853
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons on 12th August 1917 from Springbett for £5.0.0.
Notes
Thomas Chippendale, The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker’s Director, 1762, plate XVI, top, middle.
C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, Appendix H, pp. 299-301.
C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, Appendix H, pp. 299-301.
