Painted and gilded beech armchair with oval back cushion and upholstered seat.
Identifier
FPF192
Title
Painted and gilded beech armchair with oval back cushion and upholstered seat.
Date
1860-1880
Description
Painted and gilded beech armchair with oval back cushion and upholstered seat.
Full Description
This cream-painted and parcel-gilt (part gilded) beech armchair is a 19th century interpretation of the French neo-classical taste of 1770 to around 1785. The arched and moulded crest rail centred by a large carved shell joins channel-moulded back posts and a lower rail. A central oval frame, also channel moulded, is held by foliate carved supports, and encloses an upholstered back cushion. The down-curved scroll arms carved with leaf-work are in two parts, the top with padded arm rests; they join tapered square fluted arm supports rising from the tops of the front legs. The chair has a bow front stuff-over seat with carved paterae in panels on the seat rail. The front legs are turned, tapered and fluted with square top sections carved with paterae; the back legs are similar, and raked; all have toupie feet. The upholstery and green velvet covers are 20th century. The painted and part gilded surface is original, although now flaky and unstable.
This drawing room chair is a good example of a late-19th century reproduction of French neo-classical style, made popular in the latter part of the 18th century by menusiers (chair-makers) such as Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené and Jacob Frères in France, and Francois Hervé, a French emigré craftsman, in England. From the mid-19th century, highly successful English makers such as Holland & Sons and George Trollope & Sons were exhibiting furniture in the French style at most of the international exhibitions – the latter most notably in 1862, 1867 and 1878.
When it was purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons in 1925, it may well have been sold as, and taken for, a genuine French antique.
This drawing room chair is a good example of a late-19th century reproduction of French neo-classical style, made popular in the latter part of the 18th century by menusiers (chair-makers) such as Jean-Baptiste-Claude Sené and Jacob Frères in France, and Francois Hervé, a French emigré craftsman, in England. From the mid-19th century, highly successful English makers such as Holland & Sons and George Trollope & Sons were exhibiting furniture in the French style at most of the international exhibitions – the latter most notably in 1862, 1867 and 1878.
When it was purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons in 1925, it may well have been sold as, and taken for, a genuine French antique.
Condition
In good original condition, although the painted and gilded finish have deteriorated.
Repairs to one arm support.
Upholstery replaced.
Repairs to one arm support.
Upholstery replaced.
Materials
Beech.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 97
W 61
D. 61
W 61
D. 61
Parker Numbers
6045 or 6042
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons in March 1925 for £16.10.0.
Notes
J. Meyer, ‘Trollope and Sons – Makers and Exhibitors of Fine Furniture’, The Decorative Arts Society 1850 to the Present, 2001, pp. 87-96.
