Armchair
1685-1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
On loan to Ham House.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | carved walnut, caned seat and back |
| Brief description | Walnut, twist turned, and caned, 1685-1700, England; part of a set with initials MSR |
| Physical description | Description: Twist-turned full-height uprights to the back, with (2/4) rectangular blocks carved with a flowering stem and background motifs with a flower punch design at the joints, surmounted by carved crown finials. The top-rail consists of ‘horsebone’ (broken scroll) scrolls and acanthus centring on a strawberry leaf crown, below which are the carved initials 'M. S. R.' An oval cane back panel in the back, within a frame of ‘horsebone’ scrolls and rosettes with a 9-point punched decoration. The moulded arms, ending in scroll handles, are supported on twist-turned uprights. The seat is caned, the seat rails with a moulded top edge. Front legs of ‘horsebone’ (?) scroll form on pad feet, linked by a stretcher of ‘horsebone’ scrolls, centring on a crown. A rear mid-height twist-turned stretcher connects the back legs and the front and back legs are joined by an H form twist-turned stretcher. Back legs and stretchers all twist-turned, with square sections at the joints. The object number is found below the front rail. A glued and printed label is under the front rail, with the letters ‘E.S. CLARKE’. Modifications and Wear: Metal reinforcing plate on reverse of front stretcher. Front left foot is replaced. Extensive CFB exit holes to the top rail. Overall good condition. The left side rail with a split about 15cm long. Front right leg with a split above the ‘ankle’. The single pegged joints appear to be original. The frame of the back panel with 3 patch repairs – one in mastic, two in wood. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr Leslie Clarke |
| Object history | Given by Mr. Leslie Clarke, 87 Belsize Park Gardens, London NW3 RP 1490/40 |
| Summary | On loan to Ham House. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | Adam Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714 Charles II to Queen Anne (Woodbridge, England: Antique Collector's Club, 1988), pp 230-231. pl 8:1.
‘By 1689 the twist-turned chair was nearing the end of its fashionable life, but it survived long enough to acquire the newly-introduced oval back. This feature was first mentioned by Thomas Roberts in a bill of March 1689, and for a few years chairmakers adapted the new style of back to their twist-turned frames. 8:1 and 8:2 show two typical examples, with horsebone crest and forerails and double-scrolled fore-legs. The frames of the back panels are also carved with horsebone scrolls, which lend themselves easily to the oval shape.' p 230
Pl 8:1 caption: 'Caned chair (1685-1700), walnut. The double-scrolled legs, twist-turned frame and horsebone fore-rails all date from the 1680s, but the oval back suggest a later date, perhaps 1690. Note how the horsebone scrolls lend themselves to the shape of the back'. p 231 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.39-1940 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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