Simulated mahogany armchair with upholstered seat and back.
Identifier
FPF183
Title
Simulated mahogany armchair with upholstered seat and back.
Date
1775-1785.
Description
An upholstered open armchair with carved frame and cabriole legs made in limewood, stained and grained to simulate mahogany.
Full Description
This armchair has a curved cartouche-shaped back within a gadroon-carved and moulded surround, and outwardly-curved arms with upholstered pads and moulded forward-scrolled supports. The stuff-over seat is serpentine in two dimensions with gadroon-carved edges and is raised on slender moulded cabriole front legs and conforming back legs, also with gadrooned edges. The front legs are carved at the knees with cartouches and end in scrolled-under feet. The upholstery has been replaced in the 20th century.
This sophisticated armchair is designed in the French rococo taste but has a distinctively English elegance about it. It would originally have been part of a drawing room suite. Most chairs of this type were made of fine mahogany whereas this example is in limewood and would originally have been gilded or painted; it is now stained and grained to resemble mahogany. The carving is well executed. It is unusual to carry the gadrooned ornament across the tops of the legs, as in this case. The design has been associated with John Cobb of Soho (c.1715-78) who was in partnership with William Vile from 1751, and certainly its quality would imply a top London maker.
This sophisticated armchair is designed in the French rococo taste but has a distinctively English elegance about it. It would originally have been part of a drawing room suite. Most chairs of this type were made of fine mahogany whereas this example is in limewood and would originally have been gilded or painted; it is now stained and grained to resemble mahogany. The carving is well executed. It is unusual to carry the gadrooned ornament across the tops of the legs, as in this case. The design has been associated with John Cobb of Soho (c.1715-78) who was in partnership with William Vile from 1751, and certainly its quality would imply a top London maker.
Condition
Front rail braced and two legs heavily strengthened.
A little loss of height on feet.
Chips to gadrooning.
20th century upholstery.
A little loss of height on feet.
Chips to gadrooning.
20th century upholstery.
Materials
Limewood.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 90
W. 67
D. 65
W. 67
D. 65
Parker Numbers
Plastic label inside seat rail: ‘OM 2024’.
Associated number: 2437.
Associated number: 2437.
Provenance
Acquired by Frederick Parker & Sons by 1913, when it was valued at £15.0.0.
Notes
A number of similar chairs have appeared on the market: one with gadroon carving running over the tops of the front legs is illustrated in M. Harris & Sons, The English Chair, 1937, pl. LXX.
