Mahogany side chair with fan-shaped splat and drop-in upholstered seat.

FPF375A

Mahogany side chair with fan-shaped splat and drop-in upholstered seat.

1870-1890

Mahogany side chair with fan-shaped splat and drop-in upholstered seat.

This mahogany side chair has an undulating crest rail with acanthus carving on the rounded corners and waisted and moulded back posts. The pierced fan-shaped splat is carved with Prince of Wales feathers above a foliate pendant. Five vertical struts have a carved cross rail at the mid-point. The splat joins a ‘shoe’ on the rear seat rail. The rails are square section and the drop-in upholstered seat is tapered. The legs are square-section and moulded and joined by an ‘H-form’ cross stretcher, with a higher stretcher between the flared back legs. The upholstery and cover are early 20th century.

This is a 19th century copy of fan-back chairs dating from the mid-1770s to the 1780s. It can be related to a chair by Gillows described as ‘Fan back chair with arched top rail and plain square legs (67/66)’ (Boynton, 1995). A large set of fan-back chairs was made by Gillows for William Hassell of Penrith in 1774, now at Dalemain, Cumbria (Stuart, 2008).

The drop-in seat upholstery and cover are 20th century.

Mahogany.
Upholstery.

H. 94
W. 56
D. 53

Stamped 226.

In the Frederick Parker Collection prior to 1993.

ed. L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, Royston, 1995, no. 251.
S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, 2008, Woodbridge, Vol. I, pp. 151-153, Plates 97, 100-101.