Painted beech and caned tub chair.
Identifier
FPF318
Title
Painted beech and caned tub chair.
Date
1790-1800
Description
Painted beech and caned tub chair.
Full Description
This painted beech tub chair has a tall back, winged sides and shaped seat, all caned. The back and sides are a continuous curve, and the back is supported with a single vertical bar in the centre. The chair is raised on turned tapering legs with ‘toupie’ feet (toupie is French for a spinning top) and the back legs are flared. The legs are joined by diagonal turned cross stretchers.
A fully caned armchair is illustrated in Thomas Sheraton’s The Cabinet Dictionary (1803). The revival of caned furniture in the Regency period was remarked on by Sheraton: ‘About 30 years since, it was quite gone out of fashion, partly owing to the imperfect manner in which it was executed. But on the revival of japanning [painted] furniture, it began to be brought gradually into use and a state of improvement… The cane used for the best purposes, is of a fine light straw colour, and this, indeed, makes the most agreeable contrast to almost every colour it is joined with’ (cited in Gloag, 1991).
A fully caned armchair is illustrated in Thomas Sheraton’s The Cabinet Dictionary (1803). The revival of caned furniture in the Regency period was remarked on by Sheraton: ‘About 30 years since, it was quite gone out of fashion, partly owing to the imperfect manner in which it was executed. But on the revival of japanning [painted] furniture, it began to be brought gradually into use and a state of improvement… The cane used for the best purposes, is of a fine light straw colour, and this, indeed, makes the most agreeable contrast to almost every colour it is joined with’ (cited in Gloag, 1991).
Condition
Section of front rail has been replaced.
Repairs to the rear of the chair-back – the central strut and lower back rail have been replaced.
The cane in the sides is original, the back and seat are re-caned. There is damage to the cane in places.
Original paint scheme is no longer present. The chair has been repainted.
Repairs to the rear of the chair-back – the central strut and lower back rail have been replaced.
The cane in the sides is original, the back and seat are re-caned. There is damage to the cane in places.
Original paint scheme is no longer present. The chair has been repainted.
Materials
Beech.
Cane.
Cane.
Physical Dimensions
H. 86
W. 56
D. 56
W. 56
D. 56
Parker Numbers
OM 146. Old 567. 2134
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons pre 1911 when it was valued at 10 shillings.
Notes
T. Sheraton, The Cabinet Dictionary, 1803, opposite p. 20, top left.
J. Gloag, A Complete Dictionary of Furniture, revised and expanded by C. Edwards, Woodstock, 1991, p. 178.
J. Gloag, A Complete Dictionary of Furniture, revised and expanded by C. Edwards, Woodstock, 1991, p. 178.
