Mahogany open armchair with upholstered seat and spindles in the back.
Identifier
FPF168
Title
Mahogany open armchair with upholstered seat and spindles in the back.
Date
1770-1790
Description
Mahogany open armchair with upholstered seat and spindles in the back.
Full Description
This mahogany open armchair has a continuous arched and curved back and arms, the shaped back posts rising from the legs, which are turned below seat level. The back has five splayed spindles turned with nodes, regularly spaced rather than resembling bamboo. The arms meet down-swept moulded supports rising from the front legs. The tapering and curved seat has stuff-over upholstery and a close-nailed horsehair cover. The front legs are tapering, turned and carved with a band of fluting at their tops. The back legs are turned and raked. The legs are united by diagonal turned cross stretchers that have been reinforced at the joints with later metal brackets. The upholstery and cover are 19th century.
The pattern for this chair is somewhat similar to Hepplewhite’s 1788 design for a ‘Bar-back sofa’, having a continuous open-frame back and arms with splayed bars and an upholstered seat (White, 1990). A similar chair was sold through Christie’s, London in 2013, described as being possibly made by a French emigré chairmaker. The mahogany seat rail is partly exposed on the Christie’s example, and is fluted, and it seems likely that this chair (FPF168) was originally made and upholstered in this way, before extensive alterations were carried out in the 19th century when the seat rails were replaced and the chair was re-upholstered.
The pattern for this chair is somewhat similar to Hepplewhite’s 1788 design for a ‘Bar-back sofa’, having a continuous open-frame back and arms with splayed bars and an upholstered seat (White, 1990). A similar chair was sold through Christie’s, London in 2013, described as being possibly made by a French emigré chairmaker. The mahogany seat rail is partly exposed on the Christie’s example, and is fluted, and it seems likely that this chair (FPF168) was originally made and upholstered in this way, before extensive alterations were carried out in the 19th century when the seat rails were replaced and the chair was re-upholstered.
Condition
Surface has been stripped.
Seat rails are replaced and the chair re-upholstered.
Rear left back leg and lower part of rear right back leg are replaced.
Lower part of front right leg replaced.
Metal brackets supporting the stretchers.
Seat rails are replaced and the chair re-upholstered.
Rear left back leg and lower part of rear right back leg are replaced.
Lower part of front right leg replaced.
Metal brackets supporting the stretchers.
Materials
Mahogany.
The rear and two side seat rails are ash, the front seat rail is oak.
Upholstery.
The rear and two side seat rails are ash, the front seat rail is oak.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 89
W. 58
D. 56
W. 58
D. 56
Parker Numbers
OM 5919, plastic label on the back left of the seat rail.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons on 18 June 1919 for £18.0.0.
Notes
E. White (ed.), Pictorial Dictionary of British 18th Century Furniture Design, Antique Collectors’ Club, 1990, p.114, A. Hepplewhite & Co., The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1st Edition, 1788, top left.
Christies, London, 2 May 2013, lot 221
Christies, London, 2 May 2013, lot 221
