Mahogany upholstered tub armchair.

FPF264

Mahogany upholstered tub armchair.

1780-1800

Mahogany upholstered tub armchair.

This tub armchair has a mahogany frame with a high curved rectangular back and arms enclosing fitted upholstery. The arms are curved out and meet down-swept supports moulded with sunk panels, which join the tops of the front legs. The seat rails are also upholstered and there is a loose, deeply padded cushion. The front legs are square-section and tapering, also moulded with sunk panels, and terminate in spade feet. The back legs are square-section and flared. The upholstery is 20th century with a red-brown leather cover.

This form of easy chair is possibly related to sofa designs published by Hepplewhite in The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, 1789 and 1794, where he specified that ‘the woodwork of which should be either mahogany or japanned’ and the recommended covering was ‘red morocco leather’ (White, 1990).

Repaired 21st June 1921 for £4.15.0.
The back legs are tipped.
There is a patch on the left-hand arm rest.

Mahogany.
Beech.
Upholstery.

H. 99
W. 66
D. 74

865. 2289.

Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons pre 1914 from Thornton Smith for £3.0.0.

E. White, ed., Pictorial Dictionary of British 18th Century Furniture Design, Antique Collectors’ Club, 1990, p.116-7, Plates 25 and 21.