High Chair
1680-1690 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The proportions of this chair (reduced in size, but with a raised seat) are those of a child's chair, but in most other respects it replicates the features of smart caned chairs made for adults. Interesting evidence of its day to day use survive in the form of holes cut in the front legs for an adjustable foot rest and (above the seat) for a bar to prevent the child falling forwards. Both the bar and the foot rest are now missing.
Unlike upholstered chairs, caned chairs seem to have been produced through a subdivision of piece-work labour by journeymen joiners, turners, caners and carvers, who seem often to have stamped their work with initials, as on one of the back legs of this chair (SR).
Unlike upholstered chairs, caned chairs seem to have been produced through a subdivision of piece-work labour by journeymen joiners, turners, caners and carvers, who seem often to have stamped their work with initials, as on one of the back legs of this chair (SR).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Walnut, with caned seat and back |
| Brief description | Child's chair, carved walnut, London, 1670-80 (46/947) |
| Physical description | Child's armchair of carved walnut with caned seat and back panel, carved crest and scroll-handle arms. The stretchers, front legs and rear uprights are turned - the rear uprights using two-centre turning. The front feet are carved as simplified scrolls and the rear uprights have vase shaped finials. Note that the bottom rail of the back is curved. Modifications The front legs have been drilled beow the handles, presumably for a safety bar (missing), and four times for an adjustable foot-rest (also missing). There is noticeable wear on the front stretcher. Three seat rails have been replaced. The caning, possibly original. There is a dark stain overall. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | SR (carver's stamp on right rear leg, stamped twice) |
| Object history | Purchased for £18.10s from Gill and Reigate Ltd., 73-85 Oxford St. London 'restored, cane broken, footrest missing'. Noted on RF as 'obviously genuine and belongs to a rare type' and 'with orginal canework' (OB), compared with 'a rather finer specimen' recently purchased (W.89-1910). On long-term loan to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (Elizabethan House), ca. 1951 - 2015 |
| Production | stamped SR |
| Summary | The proportions of this chair (reduced in size, but with a raised seat) are those of a child's chair, but in most other respects it replicates the features of smart caned chairs made for adults. Interesting evidence of its day to day use survive in the form of holes cut in the front legs for an adjustable foot rest and (above the seat) for a bar to prevent the child falling forwards. Both the bar and the foot rest are now missing. Unlike upholstered chairs, caned chairs seem to have been produced through a subdivision of piece-work labour by journeymen joiners, turners, caners and carvers, who seem often to have stamped their work with initials, as on one of the back legs of this chair (SR). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.557-1912 |
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| Record created | March 1, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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