Mahogany armchair with carved splat back and upholstered seat.
Identifier
FPF270
Title
Mahogany armchair with carved splat back and upholstered seat.
Date
1790-1800
Description
Mahogany armchair with carved vase-shaped splat and upholstered seat.
Full Description
This mahogany armchair has a raised channel-moulded crest rail carved with flowers and foliage, and channel-moulded upright posts joined by a lower rail just above the seat. The splat is formed of three vertical splats, the outer pair joined across the top to form rectangular frame; the centre splat is shaped and carved into an elongated vase carved with fluting. The curved arms meet down-swept channel-moulded supports which are fixed to the seat rails. The tapering stuff-over seat is covered in a modern dark green leather and close-nailed. The front legs are square-section and tapering, with channel-moulded panels and spade feet; the back legs are plain, tapering and flared.
This chair demonstrates the influence of published furniture designs which proliferated in the second half of the 18th century, particularly in the 1790s. The back is possibly inspired by Thomas Sheraton patterns published in his Cabinet-Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book, 1791-94 (Edwards, 1945). A very similar chair features in George Hepplewhite's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788-94, which also shows an elongated vase splat. It is possible that Hepplewhite copied this design from Sheraton (Tomlin, 1972).
This chair demonstrates the influence of published furniture designs which proliferated in the second half of the 18th century, particularly in the 1790s. The back is possibly inspired by Thomas Sheraton patterns published in his Cabinet-Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book, 1791-94 (Edwards, 1945). A very similar chair features in George Hepplewhite's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788-94, which also shows an elongated vase splat. It is possible that Hepplewhite copied this design from Sheraton (Tomlin, 1972).
Condition
The arms are replaced.
The upholstery is 20th century; there are fragments of an earlier black cover under the tacks.
The upholstery is 20th century; there are fragments of an earlier black cover under the tacks.
Materials
Mahogany.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 91
W. 56
D. 53
W. 56
D. 53
Parker Numbers
886. 143.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons pre-1911, valued at £2.0.0
Notes
R. Edwards, Sheraton Furniture Designs from the Cabinet-Maker’s and Upholsterer’s Drawing Book 1791-94, London, 1945, p. 41 (top left), p. 43 (bottom right).
A. Hepplewhite and Co., The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide; or, Repository of designs for every article of household furniture . 3rd ed., 1794, plate 1. Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1972, p. 144, Q/9.
A chair of comparable design is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, W.70-1937.
Chair | Unknown | V&A Explore The Collections
A. Hepplewhite and Co., The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide; or, Repository of designs for every article of household furniture . 3rd ed., 1794, plate 1. Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1972, p. 144, Q/9.
A chair of comparable design is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, W.70-1937.
Chair | Unknown | V&A Explore The Collections
