Chair
1710-1720 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
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. Both the technique and the material (rattan cane or calamus rotang split into long narrow strips) came from Asia. The canes were imported in large quantities by the East India Company to London, where the production of caned furniture was concentrated. Caned chairs were also exported from London in large quantities, so much so that in France they were known as chaises d'anglaise, and in the German states as englische Stühle. They were often used with a light seat cushion. 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 the front stretcher (CS or LS) of this chair. The rush seat on this chair is probably a replacement for a caned seat.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Walnut, turned with caned back panel and rush seat |
Brief description | English, 1680-1700, 46/947 |
Physical description | High backed walnut chair with cane back, and a rush seat, with arched top rail with raised corner 'ears', and straight mid-rail, moulded on its face all round. The seat rails built up at the front corners, and with a curved top profile and without holes (suggesting that either the rails have been replaced, or that the rush type seat is original). There is no obvious evidence that the rails have been replaced however. The legs turned (those at the front with a fluted baluster), and side, middle and rear stretchers also turned, while the pierced carved front stretcher of a scrolling arch form. The caned panel with very tight cane pattern. The front stretcher stamped LS (or CS). Single protruding square pegs Repairs: top rail broken (2007) at old glue joint; both feet damaged, and metal nails in all four feet. Minor losses to upper edge of front stretcher. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | LS (or CS) (The front stretcher stamped) |
Credit line | Given by J.Hutchinson |
Object history | Given by J.Hutchinson, 1 Park Crescent, Porland Place, London W1., ('the well-known surgeon (lecturer at London Hospital)) 'damaged, portion broken off, worn, wormeaten'. Oliver Brackett commented that ' The feet are broken and the seat has been covered with rush...' In offering it Hutchinson wrote 'I sent from Lympne an antique chair probably of Flemish design and about William and Mary period...' On loan to Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, 1938 - 2014. |
Production | Stamped LS(?) |
Summary | 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. Both the technique and the material (rattan cane or calamus rotang split into long narrow strips) came from Asia. The canes were imported in large quantities by the East India Company to London, where the production of caned furniture was concentrated. Caned chairs were also exported from London in large quantities, so much so that in France they were known as chaises d'anglaise, and in the German states as englische Stühle. They were often used with a light seat cushion. 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 the front stretcher (CS or LS) of this chair. The rush seat on this chair is probably a replacement for a caned seat. |
Collection | |
Accession number | W.54-1913 |
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Record created | March 1, 2007 |
Record URL |
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