Armchair
ca. 1700-1710 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This armchair has a leather-covered seat and back panel, but was originally fitted with a caned seat and back (part of the original seat-frame survives, with holes drilled for caning). Lightweight, walnut caned chairs were not stout enough to withstand heavy use, so the presence of various repairs on this example is not surprising.
Caned chairs appeared in England soon after the Restoration of King Charles II, and quickly became popular, being cheaper, lighter and less prone to dust and pest than their upholstered equivalents. They were widely recorded in middle-class as well as noble house inventories well into the first half of the eighteenth century.
Caned chairs appeared in England soon after the Restoration of King Charles II, and quickly became popular, being cheaper, lighter and less prone to dust and pest than their upholstered equivalents. They were widely recorded in middle-class as well as noble house inventories well into the first half of the eighteenth century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Walnut, carved and turned, with upholstered seat and back panel replacing the original caning |
| Brief description | Armchair of turned and carved walnut, upholstered in leather, replacing earlier caned panels to seat and back. English, ca. 1700-1710 |
| Physical description | Carved walnut armchair, with upholstered dark, textured leather seat (with horsehair and webbing) and back panel (replacing the original caned seat and back panel) held by round-headed brass pins; with carved crest and front stretcher, and turned legs and rear uprights; the arms ending in scroll hand rests. Repairs - all feet tipped; metal brackets added under the PR side rail, and under both arms, on the PL front leg, and inside the PR seat rail. A pine block has been added to bulk out the front rail, presumably when the caned seat (fragments of which remain) was replaced. The back and front stretchers with various repairs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by W.H. Hammond in memory of Lieut. R.M. Hammond |
| Object history | Given by W.H.Hammond of 22 Bayham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, in memory of his son Lieutenant R.M. Hammond R.F.A (who died in captivity in Germany, according to a note on the RF). The chair was described on the RF 21/7461 as 'a genuine example except for slight restoration - which is immaterial'. Mr Hammond sent a sketch of the chair when offering it to the Museum (on RF). On long-term loan to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (Elizabethan House), ca. 1951 - 2015. |
| Production | Restored, with new seat and back panel |
| Summary | This armchair has a leather-covered seat and back panel, but was originally fitted with a caned seat and back (part of the original seat-frame survives, with holes drilled for caning). Lightweight, walnut caned chairs were not stout enough to withstand heavy use, so the presence of various repairs on this example is not surprising. Caned chairs appeared in England soon after the Restoration of King Charles II, and quickly became popular, being cheaper, lighter and less prone to dust and pest than their upholstered equivalents. They were widely recorded in middle-class as well as noble house inventories well into the first half of the eighteenth century. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | Circ.525-1921 |
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| Record created | March 1, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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