Painted beech caned armchair.
Identifier
FPF280
Title
Painted beech caned armchair.
Date
1790-1810
Description
Painted beech caned armchair.
Full Description
This painted beech armchair has an arched crest rail above a splat comprising a central caned panel flanked by pierced guilloche side panels, with a lower rail just above the seat. The back posts are square-section and tapering, continuous with the squared and flared back legs. The shaped and tapering caned seat has a bow-front seat rail and there is a squab cushion covered in a modern green silk, now perished. The moulded down-swept arms end in painted scrolls, meeting arm supports which are continuous with the front columnar legs. The front legs have ‘toupie’ feet (toupie is French for a spinning top). Much of the original painted decoration in ochre, green and black survives, although in poor condition; the paintwork on the front legs simulates fluting. The cane in the back and seat is original. Screw-holes under the seat rails reveal how this chair was secured during transport.
A similar pierced guilloche fret combined with a central caned panel can be found on a pair of caned armchairs, originally either painted and/or gilded, and inscribed on the back seat rail ‘Pettifer’, possibly Edward Pettifer (fl. 1808), in the Lady Lever Art Gallery (Wood, 2009). They were part of a set of twelve chairs, ten of which were sold at Christie’s, New York, in 1994. Another slightly different variation with central painted panels sold at Christie’s in 1987 and again in 2007. These comparable chairs, including FPF280, are in the Anglo-French style promoted by Henry Holland (1745-1806), architect-designer to the Prince of Wales (later George IV) at Carlton House, London, and at Southill Park and Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. A rectangular chair back with a rounded seat was a popular fashion in Britain in this period, and together with columnar legs, it characterises the Anglo-French style.
A similar pierced guilloche fret combined with a central caned panel can be found on a pair of caned armchairs, originally either painted and/or gilded, and inscribed on the back seat rail ‘Pettifer’, possibly Edward Pettifer (fl. 1808), in the Lady Lever Art Gallery (Wood, 2009). They were part of a set of twelve chairs, ten of which were sold at Christie’s, New York, in 1994. Another slightly different variation with central painted panels sold at Christie’s in 1987 and again in 2007. These comparable chairs, including FPF280, are in the Anglo-French style promoted by Henry Holland (1745-1806), architect-designer to the Prince of Wales (later George IV) at Carlton House, London, and at Southill Park and Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. A rectangular chair back with a rounded seat was a popular fashion in Britain in this period, and together with columnar legs, it characterises the Anglo-French style.
Condition
All the legs were re- tipped on 2nd June 1931 for 15s.
Left pierced guilloche panel on the chair back is replaced.
Approximately 50% of the original paint finish in ochre, green and black remains.
Curved section to top rail split and very loose.
Squab cushion stuffing exposed with top cover rotten and torn.
Left pierced guilloche panel on the chair back is replaced.
Approximately 50% of the original paint finish in ochre, green and black remains.
Curved section to top rail split and very loose.
Squab cushion stuffing exposed with top cover rotten and torn.
Materials
Beech.
Cane.
Upholstered squab.
Cane.
Upholstered squab.
Physical Dimensions
H. 86
W. 53
D. 53
W. 53
D. 53
Parker Numbers
Cloth label stitched to underside of seat, with painted number 2005.
OM 2005, pattern no. 2705. See Frederick Parker archive, Box 55, Ms. FPA050, page 45.
OM 2005, pattern no. 2705. See Frederick Parker archive, Box 55, Ms. FPA050, page 45.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons on 14th December 1912 for £2.5.0.
Notes
L. Wood, Upholstered Furniture in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, New Haven and London, 2009, vol. II, pp. 682-688, no. 65.
