Mahogany side chair with carved and pierced splat and upholstered seat.
Identifier
FPF117
Title
Mahogany side chair with carved and pierced splat and upholstered seat.
Date
1840-1860 with crest rail c.1760
Description
A mahogany side chair with carved and pierced splat, upholstered seat and cabriole legs.
Full Description
This 19th century chair was made, probably as a fake, in the French rococo style of the mid-18th century. The serpentine crest rail in the back is from an 18th century chair, c.1760, and the rest has been skilfully designed and made to blend with it to give the appearance of a chair of the type published by Chippendale in 1762. The central splat is baluster shaped, pierced and delicately carved with scrolls and acanthus leaves in the rococo manner to suit the period top rail. The moulded back posts are splayed and tapered towards the top. The stuff-over seat is waisted at the sides and serpentine at the front. The seat rails have shaped aprons at the front and sides, framed with scrolling which runs into the front cabriole legs, terminating in scrolled feet. The front seat rail has a carved cartouche in the centre, which echoes that in the crest. There is evidence that the chair originally had H-stretchers, which would not have been likely on an 18th century chair in this style. The upholstery materials are early 20th century, covered in a damask with braid trimming.
Judging by the purchase price, Frederick Parker must have believed it to be an 18th century chair. It was quite common practice in the antiques and restoration trades in the 19th and early 20th centuries to make up sets of chairs using some original parts to provide at least a degree of authenticity and allow them to be sold as antiques. If the intention was to deceive, as was often the case, they were in fact fakes.
Judging by the purchase price, Frederick Parker must have believed it to be an 18th century chair. It was quite common practice in the antiques and restoration trades in the 19th and early 20th centuries to make up sets of chairs using some original parts to provide at least a degree of authenticity and allow them to be sold as antiques. If the intention was to deceive, as was often the case, they were in fact fakes.
Condition
The only 18th century element is the top rail.
The feet have been cut down.
The upholstery and cover are early 20th century.
The feet have been cut down.
The upholstery and cover are early 20th century.
Materials
Mahogany.
Upholstery.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 94
W. 61
D. 61
W. 61
D. 61
Parker Numbers
1974. 2288. 3178.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker from C. Grant in December 1912, for £24.10.0
Notes
For comparable designs see Thomas Chippendale, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, London, 1762, Plate XI.
