Windsor Armchair
1740-1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This chair is one of a pair in the V&A which were probably from a larger set made for a hall. The raised cresting rail on the chair-back bears the monogram of the original owner surmounted by an Earl's coronet, carved in low relief, but the original owner has not been identified, and it is likely that this carving was added to the chair at a later date. It is a Windsor chair, characterised by its construction, with a single solid piece of wood forming the seat, with legs and arm-supports dowelled into it. The seat is carved in a saddle-shape for comfort, in common with many other Windsor chairs. Their name probably derives from the town of Windsor in Berkshire, which is situated on the river Thames and was ideally located as a distribution point for chairs made in the Thames Valley region, where many chairs of this type were made.
On loan to Mompesson House.
On loan to Mompesson House.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | A low-back Windsor armchair, one of a pair, in walnut, the spindles of the back carved as classical columns, the centre of the back carved with an earl's coronet and a monogram that may be read as HS, and is possibly a later addition. |
| Physical description | One of a pair of armchairs with a low back, of a type known as a 'smoker's bow', with a solid shaped seat in the manner of Windsor chairs, a curved back-rail and arms supported by turned banisters in the form of fluted Doric columns, and four cabriole legs. On the backrail is a monogram (possibly HS) surmounted by an earls coronet and surrounded by acanthus leaf decoration, carved in low relief. The front legs are carved on the knee with incised bandwork and acanthus leaves, and terminate in pad feet. The front arm supports are carved with interlaced strapwork and the twelve banisters have plinths and entablatures carved with paterae. It is possible that the carving has been added later to the chairs, which may have started out life as rather plain pieces. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Brigadier W. E. Clark CMG, DSO through Art Fund |
| Object history | Given, with its pair (W.8-1968) by Brigadier W.E. Clark, CMG, DSO, through the Art Fund. The acquisition is recorded in Nominal File MA/1/C1585/3. The chairs are probably from a larger set made for a hall. At the time of its acquisition, it was suggested that the carving is likely to have been added in the late 19th or early 20th century. The file also contains a note saying that an image of four chairs of this pattern is in The Collector for May 1930, in an advertisement of a sale from the Hurcombe Gallery, Piccadilly Auction. It is possible that this is an imperfect reference to the 1st volume of The Antique Collector, which started in 1930, but it has not been possible to check this. On loan to Mompesson House, Salisbury (National Trust) since 1977. |
| Historical context | This chair and its pair (W.8-1968) were probably designed for library or hall use. |
| Summary | This chair is one of a pair in the V&A which were probably from a larger set made for a hall. The raised cresting rail on the chair-back bears the monogram of the original owner surmounted by an Earl's coronet, carved in low relief, but the original owner has not been identified, and it is likely that this carving was added to the chair at a later date. It is a Windsor chair, characterised by its construction, with a single solid piece of wood forming the seat, with legs and arm-supports dowelled into it. The seat is carved in a saddle-shape for comfort, in common with many other Windsor chairs. Their name probably derives from the town of Windsor in Berkshire, which is situated on the river Thames and was ideally located as a distribution point for chairs made in the Thames Valley region, where many chairs of this type were made. On loan to Mompesson House. |
| Associated object | W.8-1968 (Pair) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.9-1968 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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