Chair
about 1685-90 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Caned chairs appeared in England soon after the Restoration of King Charles II, and quickly became popular, being cheaper, lighter and less prone to dust and pest than their upholstered equivalents. They were widely recorded in middle-class as well as noble house inventories well into the first half of the eighteenth century. Both the technique and the material (rattan cane or calamus rotang split into long narrow strips) came from Asia. The canes were imported in large quantities by the East India Company to London, where the production of caned furniture was concentrated. Caned chairs were also exported from London in large quantities, so much so that in France they were known as chaises d'anglaise, and in the German states as englische Stühle. They were often used with a light seat cushion. Unlike upholstered chairs, caned chairs seem to have been produced through a subdivision of piece-work labour by journeymen joiners, turners, caners and carvers, who seem often to have stamped their work with initials, as on the right rear upright of this chair (the letters illegible).
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | walnut, carved and turned, with caned seat and back panel |
Brief description | English, 1660-80, 49/3234 |
Physical description | Carved walnut chair with caned back panel and seat, the pierced crest with boys supporting a crown, the front stretcher pierced, with a central crown and acanthus. The back uprights spiral turned, with crown finials, the stiles and lower rail around the back panel with pierced acanthus. (The PL stile stamped with two initials on the reverse, indecipherable). The front and side seat rails with low relief acanthus carving on the upper and outside surfaces, the rear rail carved only on top. The side stretchers, mid stretcher, and legs spiral turned with squared joint blocks, with floral decoration on the front legs (the front feet carved with three-toes), which terminate in a rounded boss (which would have served to locate a cushion). Dark stain overall Repairs: added support blocks under all the seat corners, and four added corner braces below the seat; the rear seat rail rebuilt. All caning replaced. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | ?? (PL stile stamped with two initials on the reverse, indecipherable)) |
Credit line | Given by Sir Ernest and Lady Reney |
Object history | One of a pair given by Sir Ernest and Lady Roney, Sidlaw, 4 South Side, Wimbledon Common SW19. Believed to be 'untouched examples of the late Stuart period'. Note that the dimensions of the chairs on catalogue do not match, and it is possible that the chairs are not a true pair at all. This chair was on loan to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (probably from c. 1951 to 2002) and Buckland Abbey (2002 to 2013). |
Historical context | Comparable chairs FW. 17.C. The Bowes Collection |
Production | stamped (illegible) |
Summary | Caned chairs appeared in England soon after the Restoration of King Charles II, and quickly became popular, being cheaper, lighter and less prone to dust and pest than their upholstered equivalents. They were widely recorded in middle-class as well as noble house inventories well into the first half of the eighteenth century. Both the technique and the material (rattan cane or calamus rotang split into long narrow strips) came from Asia. The canes were imported in large quantities by the East India Company to London, where the production of caned furniture was concentrated. Caned chairs were also exported from London in large quantities, so much so that in France they were known as chaises d'anglaise, and in the German states as englische Stühle. They were often used with a light seat cushion. Unlike upholstered chairs, caned chairs seem to have been produced through a subdivision of piece-work labour by journeymen joiners, turners, caners and carvers, who seem often to have stamped their work with initials, as on the right rear upright of this chair (the letters illegible). |
Associated object | W.49A-1927 (Ensemble) |
Collection | |
Accession number | W.49-1927 |
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Record created | March 1, 2007 |
Record URL |
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