High back walnut side chair with caned back and upholstered seat

FPF036

High back walnut side chair with caned back and upholstered seat

1715-1725

High back walnut side chair with caned back and upholstered seat, with cabriole legs.

This high back walnut chair has an elaborately carved and pierced arched crest rail with a shell in the centre flanked by S-scrolls decorated with leaves, florets and bell-flowers. The crest, moulded back posts and lower rail enclose a caned panel. There are leaf carvings at the joints between the back posts and the crest and lower rail. The lower rail is in the form of an inverted double arch. The back legs are continuous with the posts, moulded, scrolled and terminating in flared heels. The tapered stuff-over seat has an inverted double-arch apron at the front. The front legs are squared at the tops and of cabriole form, faceted and moulded and terminating in scrolled toes. The legs are joined by an H-form stretcher, the sides being serpentine and the cross-stretcher raised, scrolled and carved at the centre with leaves and husks.

There are similarities between this chair and FPF032, and they are of similar date. It is possible the chair originally had a caned seat, with the upholstery being added in the early 19th century; the front seat rail may have been replaced at the same time.

The lower back rail is replaced.
The front seat rail is replaced in oak.
The left front leg has been re-tipped.

Walnut.
Oak front seat rail.
Cane.
Upholstery.

H. 126
W. 53
D. 53

Two of the stretchers and one of the back posts are stamped with the Arabic number 5, which could indicate this was one of a set of chairs.

Pencil inscription under right stretcher: 3442 (record sheet refers to 36/3443).
OM 3 scratched into back of front stretcher.

Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons pre-1914, from Harrods £9.0.0