Painted and parcel gilt open armchair with oval back.
Identifier
FPF167
Title
Painted and parcel gilt open armchair with oval back.
Date
1770-1780
Description
A painted and parcel-gilt open armchair with upholstered oval back and seat.
Full Description
This painted and parcel-gilt armchair has an oval back has a moulded frame with a carved crest inset with upholstery. The back is curved both horizontally and vertically and is supported with two out-scrolled, moulded struts which join the seat rail, and a further support at the centre of the back rail: these are unusual features. The padded arms are carved with fluting and join arm supports that are down-swept and meet the tops of the front legs. The upholstered seat is curved at the sides and back and has a serpentine front; the seat rails are moulded and have a shaped apron carved at the front with a gadroon border, a central oval patera and acanthus sprays. The chair is raised on moulded front cabriole legs with acanthus leaf and husk pendant carving on the knees and feet, while the back legs are moulded and flared; the feet are scrolled under in the French style. The chair has been painted white and gilt in the 20th century and the upholstery is modern with a pink brocade cover.
Although the finish and upholstery are modern, this is a good example of this type of armchair in the French style. Its proportions are generous and it has a well-shaped back, signs of quality. Typical of English chairs with rounded seats, there are ‘cramp cuts’ on the inside of the seat rails to allow the leg joints to be cramped tight during assembly; there are also screw-holes in the underside of the rails where the chair was secured during transport. One French feature is an exposed strut across the rear of the oval back for added strength. The absence of decoration on the rear of the chair back suggests it was intended to stand against a wall. It was almost certainly one of a suite of chairs for a drawing room.
Although the finish and upholstery are modern, this is a good example of this type of armchair in the French style. Its proportions are generous and it has a well-shaped back, signs of quality. Typical of English chairs with rounded seats, there are ‘cramp cuts’ on the inside of the seat rails to allow the leg joints to be cramped tight during assembly; there are also screw-holes in the underside of the rails where the chair was secured during transport. One French feature is an exposed strut across the rear of the oval back for added strength. The absence of decoration on the rear of the chair back suggests it was intended to stand against a wall. It was almost certainly one of a suite of chairs for a drawing room.
Condition
Repainted white and parcel-gilt in the 20th century.
Re-upholstered in the 20th century.
Re-upholstered in the 20th century.
Materials
Beech.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 94
W. 64
D. 66
W. 64
D. 66
Parker Numbers
Back right leg painted ‘167/5279’
OM 5279, pattern no. 4381. See Frederick Parker Archive, Box 55, FPA050. Page 119.
OM 5279, pattern no. 4381. See Frederick Parker Archive, Box 55, FPA050. Page 119.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons on 22nd May 1919 for £12.10.0.
Notes
There are two examples of similar chairs in the French style at Hughenden Manor, Hertfordshire:
Open armchair 428621| National Trust collections
Open armchair 428622| National Trust collections
Open armchair 428621| National Trust collections
Open armchair 428622| National Trust collections
