Chair thumbnail 1
Chair thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 54, Henrietta Street Room

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Chair

ca. 1730-1745 (made), late 19th century (upholstered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This chair is part of a set of six. It has an upholstered seat and back which are covered with embroidery in coloured wool on canvas ground, with a walnut frame. Its back and seat depict two different scenes.

Materials & Making
Needlework in wool on canvas was considered to be the most durable form of upholstered seat covering, and was sometimes made by the ladies of the house. Contemporary book illustrations were used as sources for the needlework patterns.

Subjects Depicted
The back shows a pastoral scene: a male and a female figure with a tree in the centre. The seat shows a scene from Aesop's Fables: a fox standing watching a crane thrusting its bill into the mouth of a vase (from 'The Fox and the Crane').


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Chair
  • Upholstery
Materials and techniques
Walnut and needlework (wool on canvas)
Brief description
Upholstered chair, English, ca. 1730-1745, one of a set of six
Physical description
One of a set of six chairs. Frame of beech, veneered with walnut. At the top it has a central arch, rather small and with wide shoulders. Upholstered back and seat covered with needlework in coloured wool on linen canvas ground. The back and seat depict two different scenes. The back shows a pastoral scene: a male and a female figure with a tree in the centre. The seat shows a scene from Aesop's Fables: a fox standing watching a crane thrusting its bill into the mouth of a vase (from 'The Fox and the Crane').
Dimensions
  • Height: 38cm
  • Width: 31cm
This print was originally part of a volume that was broken up into individual plates. Dimensions taken from departmental notes.
Gallery label
British Galleries: These covers were probably put onto the chairs in the late 19th century but they are of a type that was used for fashionable drawing rooms, parlours and bedrooms throughout the first half of the 18th century. The embroidery might be done by professional workshops or by amateurs. Such seats were always provided with protective case covers, like these modern reproductions, in a cheaper and hardwearing fabric. These were only removed on special occasions.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lady W. S. Theobald
Object history
Not known
Made in England
Summary
Object Type
This chair is part of a set of six. It has an upholstered seat and back which are covered with embroidery in coloured wool on canvas ground, with a walnut frame. Its back and seat depict two different scenes.

Materials & Making
Needlework in wool on canvas was considered to be the most durable form of upholstered seat covering, and was sometimes made by the ladies of the house. Contemporary book illustrations were used as sources for the needlework patterns.

Subjects Depicted
The back shows a pastoral scene: a male and a female figure with a tree in the centre. The seat shows a scene from Aesop's Fables: a fox standing watching a crane thrusting its bill into the mouth of a vase (from 'The Fox and the Crane').
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
W.18-1938

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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