Chair thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Chair

1500-1600 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Venice (city) (made)

The front support of interlaced strap work with a mask in the centre, flanked by two terminal figures, the back of similar work with a shield of arms in the centre, and surmounted by two cupids.


Object details

Categories
Furniture
Woodwork
Object type
Chair
Materials and techniques
Carved wood, partly gilt
Carving
Carving
Brief description
Sgabello chair, carved and partly gilt wood, Venetian, 1500-1600
Physical description
The front support of interlaced strap work with a mask in the centre, flanked by two terminal figures, the back of similar work with a shield of arms in the centre, and surmounted by two cupids.
Dimensions
  • Height: 104cm
  • Width: 38cm
  • Depth: 46cm
  • Height: 54.2cm (seat height)
Gallery label
Label text c.1930 while displayed in Tapestry Court: North-East Block. West Side. [gallery 44 ‘East Central Court’ c.1909-1952] CHAIR (sgabello). Walnut carved in openwork and gilt. VENETIAN; 16th century. 7182-1860. (1930)
Object history
Bought (Soulages collection) £10
Listed as 'chestnut' but more likely to be walnut
On loan to the National Trust at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk from 1955-2019
Associated object
7182A-1860 (Pair)
Bibliographic references
  • John Hungerford Pollen, Ancient & Modern Furniture & Woodwork (London: George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode, 1874), 111-12. “7182. ’60. CHAIR. Carved walnut wood, partly gilt. The front support of interlaced strap work, with a mask in the centre, flanked by two terminal figures, the back of similar work, with a shield of arms in the centre, and surmounted by two cupids. Venetian. 16th century. H. 3 ft. 4½ in., W. 15 in. Bought (Soulages Coll.), 10l. Arms, a bend. The structure of these solid chairs meant to range along a wall, is worth notice, and this and the following number [7182a. ’60.] may serve as specimens of construction ; the back is cut into two tenons at the base, long enough to pass through the seat and find resistance against the back support, a flat piece representing the two legs. The back support again and the front are morticed into the seat, and these three pieces kept tight by small bars, deep enough to be shaped into ogee arches. Thus the chair is composed of the three pieces forming the front and back legs, and the back. These all meet in the seat, which is merely a fourth, cut or sunk into a shallow round or square panel. They are in this instance strengthened and kept thoroughly firm and solid by the cross pieces that join the supports and again connect them more completely with the seat. ”
  • Frieda Schottmüller, Furniture and Interior Decoration of the Italian Renaissance, (Stuttgart 1928) figs. 390-391
  • Frederick Litchfield, Illustrated History of Furniture from the Earliest to the Present Time. 4th ed., London and New York: Truslove, Hanson and Comba Ltd., 1899, illustrated p. 56.
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
7182-1860

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Record createdOctober 2, 2013
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1273341/chair-unknown/
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