Not currently on display at the V&A

Armchair

17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Walnut, upholstered in blue and purple velvet with fringe and felt appliqué, decorative brass nails; the front uprights are square section and terminate at the top in volutes topped by a woman's head which supports the arms of the chair; the back uprights are also square section and terminate in carved heads of a man (left) and a woman (right) turned slightly towards each other; just beneath the seat rails at front, sides (and back?) is a wide fluted stretcher; three further stretchers join front and back uprights at their bottom and back uprights just above this; the chair seat and back are upholstered with velvet appliquéd with a symmetrical geometric and scrolling motif over a ground of velvet embroidered with an upside down scale-like pattern; the upholstery extends over the front and outer sides of the back uprights and over the upper and outer sides of the seat rails; decorative brass nails line the front and sides and the sides of the front face of the chair back as well as the sides of the front, back and side seat rails and the tops of the side seat rails .


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Walnut, carved and joined; embroidered velvet and appliquéd felt
Brief description
Chair; walnut with carved decoration and velvet and felt upholstery. Spanish, 17th-century (?)
Physical description
Walnut, upholstered in blue and purple velvet with fringe and felt appliqué, decorative brass nails; the front uprights are square section and terminate at the top in volutes topped by a woman's head which supports the arms of the chair; the back uprights are also square section and terminate in carved heads of a man (left) and a woman (right) turned slightly towards each other; just beneath the seat rails at front, sides (and back?) is a wide fluted stretcher; three further stretchers join front and back uprights at their bottom and back uprights just above this; the chair seat and back are upholstered with velvet appliquéd with a symmetrical geometric and scrolling motif over a ground of velvet embroidered with an upside down scale-like pattern; the upholstery extends over the front and outer sides of the back uprights and over the upper and outer sides of the seat rails; decorative brass nails line the front and sides and the sides of the front face of the chair back as well as the sides of the front, back and side seat rails and the tops of the side seat rails .
Dimensions
  • Height: 125cm
  • Width: 60cm
  • Depth: 41cm
Credit line
Given by F. L. Lucas, Esq.
Object history
Gift from F. L. Lucas 15 Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, W., A.M.3562/09
Said to have come from the Palace of the Archbishop of Toledo. The textiles are not of the same date.
"Walnut arm-chair, upholstered in blue and purple velvet and fringe and felt applique with decorated brass nails. Said to have come from the Palace of the Archbishop of Toledo. Side uprights carved above with head of a man and of a woman, respectively; each arm is supported on a female head below which is 'money' ornament and a volute. The deep rails below are carved with flutings. Spanish, 17th century (the textile coverings are not of the same date)."
See also Nominal File MA/1/L2213. It was noted at the time of acquisition: 'These two arm-chairs of carved walnut covered with velvet partly embroidered and enriched with fringes, are good examples of Spanish chairs of the 16th cnetury. The carving is of a high quality. In the case of one chair a modern openwork design in felt appears to have been applied to the original velvet coverings; otherwise the chairs appear to be genuine.'
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
W.46-1910

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Record createdMay 11, 2007
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