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Armchair

1730-1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This form of chair has traditionally been described as 'Queen Anne', but was made at least fifteen years after that monarch died in 1714. Such chairs are now recognized as having been made in the 1730s. The back is lower than the tall backs of the pre-1714 chairs and the central splat is a development that was first used in the 1720s. This is a plain example of a type of armchair that might have elaborate carving on the feet (often as hairy lion paws) and on the knees (which could be ornamented with human or animal masks, or with cartouches or shells.


Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Armchair
  • Drop-in Seat
Materials and techniques
Solid and veneered walnut, with a seat covered in woollen velvet, stamped with a floral pattern.
Brief description
Armchair of walnut, on cabriole legs, the shaped back with a vase-shaped splat, the sides of this carved as curling scrolls, the plain seat rail on the flat front of the trapezoidal seat shaped with a small, central apron panel. The arms, on concave supports, scroll outwards. The drop-in seat is covered in olive-green woollen velvet.
Physical description
Armchair of walnut, on cabriole legs, above pad feet, the edges carved with narrwo scrolls below the spandrels. The shaped back centres on a vase-shaped splat, veneered on the front face with burr walnut, the sides of this carved as curling scrolls wrapped in leaves. The plain seat rail on the flat front of the trapezoidal seat is shaped with a small, central apron panel. The arms, on concave supports fixed to the outer faces of the seat rail, scroll outwards, with flat hand rests.. The drop-in seat is covered in olive-green woollen velvet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 39.75 in
  • Width: 28in
  • Depth: 23in
Dimensions taken from departmental catalogue.
Style
Object history
Bought for £8 from Charles W. Brown 'C.W and J.H. Brown, Antique Furniture and China Dealers', 21 Oxford Street, London, from whom the Museum bought various small items of metalwork, woodworking tools and woodwork 1891-1907, according to the nominal file. (Brown is not listed in Mark Westgarth, A Biographical Dictionary of Nineteenth Century Antique & Curiosity Dealers (Regional Furniture vol. XXIII, 2009)). Nominal File MA/1/B291. The chair was described as 'damaged'. It was stock number 8699.

On long loan to the John George Joicey Museum, Newcastle, from 1971 5o 1995 (see Registered File 71/702).
Summary
This form of chair has traditionally been described as 'Queen Anne', but was made at least fifteen years after that monarch died in 1714. Such chairs are now recognized as having been made in the 1730s. The back is lower than the tall backs of the pre-1714 chairs and the central splat is a development that was first used in the 1720s. This is a plain example of a type of armchair that might have elaborate carving on the feet (often as hairy lion paws) and on the knees (which could be ornamented with human or animal masks, or with cartouches or shells.
Collection
Accession number
138:1&2-1898

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Record createdNovember 24, 2005
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