Walnut side chair with carved splat and upholstered seat
Identifier
FPF041
Title
Walnut side chair with carved splat and upholstered seat
Date
1915-1920, the splat and crest 1720-1730
Description
A walnut side chair with a carved back splat and crest rail, cabriole front legs and upholstered seat.
Full Description
This carved walnut side chair has an early 18th century back splat and crest rail, whereas the rest of the chair was made in the Frederick Parker workshop in the early 20th century. It has a ‘bended back’, or ‘India back’, derived from Chinese chairs imported by the East India Company, with moulded and waisted back posts. The seat is upholstered with a modern cover. The front legs are cabrioles ending in ‘pieds de biche’, ie., feet carved in the form of deer hooves. The back legs are continuous with the posts, turned and with blocked heels. There is an H-form way stretcher with the cross stretcher set forward, arched and carved with scrolls and leaves. Much of the design is in the French style and such chairs are often referred to in the antiques trade as in the style of Daniel Marot, the French architect and designer to William III.
The chair was made by Frederick Parker and Sons in the early 20th century, using the period splat and crest. The design is attributed to Walter Ferry, who was employed by Parkers from 1913 to 1941; his expertise in antiques and design made a significant contribution to the success of the company in the first half of the 20th century (Bland, 1995).
In their original form, chairs of this type would have been expensive; the bended back requires more wood than a chair with a straight back, and the extent of shaping and carving involved in every element indicates significant time and skill in the making. The back splat and crest rail resemble those in a set of chairs at Hampton Court, c.1725 (Bowett, 2009). Bowett considers the Hampton Court chairs might originally have had caned or rush seats because the lower rail in the back is set at a height which appears too low for upholstery; the chairs were fitted with new seat rails in the 19th century, and the upholstery could have been added then.
The chair was made by Frederick Parker and Sons in the early 20th century, using the period splat and crest. The design is attributed to Walter Ferry, who was employed by Parkers from 1913 to 1941; his expertise in antiques and design made a significant contribution to the success of the company in the first half of the 20th century (Bland, 1995).
In their original form, chairs of this type would have been expensive; the bended back requires more wood than a chair with a straight back, and the extent of shaping and carving involved in every element indicates significant time and skill in the making. The back splat and crest rail resemble those in a set of chairs at Hampton Court, c.1725 (Bowett, 2009). Bowett considers the Hampton Court chairs might originally have had caned or rush seats because the lower rail in the back is set at a height which appears too low for upholstery; the chairs were fitted with new seat rails in the 19th century, and the upholstery could have been added then.
Condition
The splat and crest rail are early 18th century, the rest of the chair is early 20th century. The seat cover was fitted in the 1930s.
There are two holes in the back of the splat, now filled, which might indicate that at some stage it was hung up in a workshop as a pattern.
There are two holes in the back of the splat, now filled, which might indicate that at some stage it was hung up in a workshop as a pattern.
Materials
Walnut.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 117
W. 56
D. 53
W. 56
D. 53
Parker Numbers
6266
Provenance
Made by Frederick Parker & Son, c.1915.
Notes
Stephen Bland, Take a Seat, The Story of Parker Knoll, 1834-1994, Baron, 1995, pp.41-2.
For the comparable Hampton Court chairs see Adam Bowett, Early Georgian Furniture, 1715-1730, Antiques Collectors Club, 2009, p.164, Plate 4:40.
For a similar chair see Peter Brown, The Noel Terry Collection, The York Civic Trust, 1987, p. 47.
For the comparable Hampton Court chairs see Adam Bowett, Early Georgian Furniture, 1715-1730, Antiques Collectors Club, 2009, p.164, Plate 4:40.
For a similar chair see Peter Brown, The Noel Terry Collection, The York Civic Trust, 1987, p. 47.
