Mahogany open armchair with upholstered seat and back.
Identifier
FPF193
Title
Mahogany open armchair with upholstered seat and back.
Date
1765-1785
Description
Mahogany open armchair with upholstered seat and back and cabriole legs.
Full Description
This mahogany-frame armchair has a cartouche-shaped upholstered back. The out-scrolled arm rests are part-upholstered and meet fluted mahogany down-swept supports fixed to the seat rail. The stuff-over seat has a serpentine front and a deep apron. The chair is raised on cabriole legs at the front and raked square-section flared legs at the back that terminate in toe feet. The chair is covered in a modern pink satin damask.
The pattern for this chair can be compared to two designs by the cabinet- and chair-maker John Linnell (1729-96), now held in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (E.59-1929; E.85-1929). Inspired by ‘French elbow chairs’, Linnell’s interpretation of the rococo style can be seen in the curved arm rails, the S-shaped curves at the front of the seat and the cabriole front legs.
This chair would most likely have been part of a suite of chairs and perhaps sofas to furnish a drawing room, used by family as well as guests. This was the room to which people would retire after a meal, usually the women leaving first while the men remained for a while in the dining room with port and cigars. Drawing room chairs were designed to be elegant, comfortable and convenient.
A set of eight chairs made to the first of Linnell’s designs discussed above (together with two sofas en suite) was supplied to William Drake at Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, in 1768 (Hayward, Kirkham, 1980).
The pattern for this chair can be compared to two designs by the cabinet- and chair-maker John Linnell (1729-96), now held in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (E.59-1929; E.85-1929). Inspired by ‘French elbow chairs’, Linnell’s interpretation of the rococo style can be seen in the curved arm rails, the S-shaped curves at the front of the seat and the cabriole front legs.
This chair would most likely have been part of a suite of chairs and perhaps sofas to furnish a drawing room, used by family as well as guests. This was the room to which people would retire after a meal, usually the women leaving first while the men remained for a while in the dining room with port and cigars. Drawing room chairs were designed to be elegant, comfortable and convenient.
A set of eight chairs made to the first of Linnell’s designs discussed above (together with two sofas en suite) was supplied to William Drake at Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, in 1768 (Hayward, Kirkham, 1980).
Condition
Metal brackets reinforcing three legs. Left front leg corner bracket missing, right front leg both corner brackets missing. Repairs to both back legs and left front leg.
Materials
Mahogany.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 94
W. 66
D. 61
W. 66
D. 61
Parker Numbers
500
Provenance
In the Collection prior to 1993.
Notes
H. Hayward, P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell: Eighteenth Century London Furniture Makers, London, 1980, vol. II, p. 34, fig. 61.
Design For An Armchair From A Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs | John Linnell | V&A Explore The Collections
This chair is on loan to No 1 Royal Crescent, Bath.
Design For An Armchair From A Miscellaneous Collection of Original Designs | John Linnell | V&A Explore The Collections
This chair is on loan to No 1 Royal Crescent, Bath.
