Gilded beech armchair with upholstered seat.
Identifier
FPF218
Title
Gilded beech armchair with upholstered seat.
Date
1900-1910
Description
Carved and gilded beech armchair with upholstered seat.
Full Description
This gilded beech armchair has a turned top rail carved with foliage and pearls above a rectangular solid panel with foliate scrolls and rosettes with a pearl border. Below there is a pierced panel enclosing a stylised anthemion, or honeysuckle. The down-swept arms have pad arms terminating in squared ends carved with rosettes, supported on turned and fluted uprights carved with leaf work. An upholstered seat is bordered by a seat rail carved with foliate scrolls, rosettes and paterae. The chair is supported on fluted columnar front legs and the back legs are square-section and flared. The chair is covered in a green velvet, now faded and in poor condition.
This chair was purchased by Frederick Parker as a period chair but was actually made in the early 20th century in imitation of a late-18th century chair. It is similar to two designs for Drawing Room chairs from Sheraton’s Cabinet-Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book 1791-94. Such chairs could be ‘finished in burnished gold with seat and back covered in printed silk’ or ‘finished in japan painting with a little gilding in parts of the banister to give a lively effect’ (Edwards, 1945).
This chair was purchased by Frederick Parker as a period chair but was actually made in the early 20th century in imitation of a late-18th century chair. It is similar to two designs for Drawing Room chairs from Sheraton’s Cabinet-Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book 1791-94. Such chairs could be ‘finished in burnished gold with seat and back covered in printed silk’ or ‘finished in japan painting with a little gilding in parts of the banister to give a lively effect’ (Edwards, 1945).
Condition
Repair to the right leg with iron bar.
Splits to the underside of the seat rail.
The chair covering is in a worn condition.
Splits to the underside of the seat rail.
The chair covering is in a worn condition.
Materials
Beech.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 91
W. 61
D. 61
W. 61
D. 61
Parker Numbers
OM 2329. See Frederick Parker Archive, Box 55, FPA050, Page 58.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons prior to 1914 when it was valued at £10.0.0
Notes
R. Edwards, Sheraton Furniture Designs, London, 1945, pp. 11, Item 44, and p. 45.
