Chair Cover
1725-1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Show covers, or 'false cases', like this, were made to be slipped on and off furniture. Often using particularly decorative or high value textiles, they might only be brought out during the short periods when a house was occupied by wealthy owners with several other residences, or if prestigious guests were to be received.
This example, which shows the arms of a branch of the Holden family, was made for a wing chair, and may have been intended for a bedroom. The embroidery has been cut to fit the parts of the chair cover and was possibly a bed cover originally; it has been very well placed to show the pattern to best advantage. There may have been matching bed hangings, which were often decorated with this style and colouring of embroidery.
This example, which shows the arms of a branch of the Holden family, was made for a wing chair, and may have been intended for a bedroom. The embroidery has been cut to fit the parts of the chair cover and was possibly a bed cover originally; it has been very well placed to show the pattern to best advantage. There may have been matching bed hangings, which were often decorated with this style and colouring of embroidery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Linen embroidered in silk, with glazed watered worsted and linen tape |
| Brief description | Chair and cushion covers of linen embroidered with silk, English, 1725-1750. |
| Physical description | Loose cover, for a high-backed winged armchair, of linen embroidered with silk . It comprises two pieces, one cover for the chair back, wings and arms, and one cover for the cushion. |
| Dimensions | Measured LC 11/10/10 fully padded and mounted (both) |
| Marks and inscriptions | Coat of arms, on a lozenge for a spinster or widow. Sable, a fess between 2 chevrons ermines. (These arms and variations on them were held by several branches of the Holden family of Derbyshire and Lancashire.) |
| Historical context | John Cornforth gives a good summary of the practice of putting such show covers, or 'false cases', onto furniture, made of high value textiles that might only be brought out during short periods when a house was occupied. (Early Georgian Furniture, p.105). He mentions a number of houses where such covers are listed in inventories. Use of such covers could also be a way of varying the decoration of a room between summer and winter. |
| Summary | Show covers, or 'false cases', like this, were made to be slipped on and off furniture. Often using particularly decorative or high value textiles, they might only be brought out during the short periods when a house was occupied by wealthy owners with several other residences, or if prestigious guests were to be received. This example, which shows the arms of a branch of the Holden family, was made for a wing chair, and may have been intended for a bedroom. The embroidery has been cut to fit the parts of the chair cover and was possibly a bed cover originally; it has been very well placed to show the pattern to best advantage. There may have been matching bed hangings, which were often decorated with this style and colouring of embroidery. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.302&A-1973 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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