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

Hall Chair

1770-1780 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hall chair of mahogany carved in openwork and in relief, painted brown and with herldic crest painted in colours. The openwork back is of baluster shape, its outer border is decorated with openwork quatrefoils and encloses a rococo escutcheon painted against a blue ground, with a unicorn head in white, facing left, with mane and horn in yellow (for azure a unicorn's head armed and crined or). The curved elbow arms are flattened on top and join to recurved supports. The seat dips in the centre and also at its side-edges. The four-sided legs have a cabriole form, the two rear legs are not decorated. The chair has a pair of conjoined ogee stretchers in the 'Gothick' taste, connecting the front legs with the centre on a plain four-sided stretcher running between the rear legs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved and painted mahogany
Brief description
Hall chair, carved and painted mahogany with unicorn, England, 1770-1780
Physical description
Hall chair of mahogany carved in openwork and in relief, painted brown and with herldic crest painted in colours. The openwork back is of baluster shape, its outer border is decorated with openwork quatrefoils and encloses a rococo escutcheon painted against a blue ground, with a unicorn head in white, facing left, with mane and horn in yellow (for azure a unicorn's head armed and crined or). The curved elbow arms are flattened on top and join to recurved supports. The seat dips in the centre and also at its side-edges. The four-sided legs have a cabriole form, the two rear legs are not decorated. The chair has a pair of conjoined ogee stretchers in the 'Gothick' taste, connecting the front legs with the centre on a plain four-sided stretcher running between the rear legs.
Dimensions
  • Height: 98cm
  • Width: 62cm
  • Depth: 61cm
Measurements taken from departmental file - not checked on object.
Object history
The pair (W.15&16-1953) were purchased together for £50 from Mr. A.F. Allbrook of Cromwell Place, London (RF 53/1231). They were on long term loan to the National Trust at Croft Castle between 1960 and 2007 (RF 59/1874).

Forms of unicorns' heads have been borne as a crest by several familes including branches of Savage of Cheshire, of Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, and elsewhere.
Subjects depicted
Associated object
W.15-1953 (Pair)
Collection
Accession number
W.16-1953

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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