Armchair of mahogany, with a shield-shaped back with a curvilinear pierced splat, the hollow (downcurved) seat covered in black, striped horsehair fabric with two lines of brass nails.

Armchair of mahogany, with a shield-shaped back with a curvilinear pierced splat, the hollow (downcurved) seat covered in black, striped horsehair fabric with two lines of brass nails. The legs are square-sectioned and tapering, the front legs carved at the base with waisted, knob feet. The back is rounded at the base, with an arched top rail. The splat is waisted, ballooning at the top. It is composed of two opposed, elongated S-scrolls, supporting an outline urn shape overlapping a central leafy stem. The front faces of the back are carved with trails of husks. The out-curving arms run directly onto serpentine-shaped arm supports that rise from the outer side of the seat, well behind the front legs. The seat has been recovered but this was probably done soon after the chair was made and the structural upholstery may be original. It shows a linen base-cloth above striped webbing, with four lengths running front to back and three laterally.

Given by Commander Walter N. Westhead RNVR

This chair was part of a set of nine chair, eight of which were retained by the donor, Commander Walter N. Westhead. According to Maurice Tomlin's catalogue of 1972 (see references) this set, including two armchairs, was acquired by Jonathan Pytts for his house at Kyre Park, Worcestershire, in about 1776. One of these, still with its original leather-covered seat is illustrated in H.A, Tipping in English Homes, vol. VI, pt. I (London, 1926), fig. 124. The size of the set of chairs is odd and it is more likely that there were originally eight, ten or twelve single chairs, plus two armchairs. Tomlin's dating of the chairs also now seems rather early. It would be interesting to know whether this was the date of the acquisition of the house. The phrase 'about 1776' may give an elastic dating that could more convincingly stretch into the 1780s.

There are similarities between the splat design of this chair and plate 17 of George Hepplewhite's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 3rd ed, 1794.

This light and elegant chair was one of a set of nine chairs, including two armchairs, owned by the donor. They were said to have been acquired by Jonathan Pytts for his home at Kyre House, Worcestershire. The date given for the chairs was 1776, but it is likely that they date from the 1780s and perhaps the date of 1776 was the date when Mr Pytt acquired his house. The fashion for shield-backed chairs was long-lasting and they were made with a great variety of splat detail, the designs publicised in engraved designs by George Hepplewhite (1789) and Thomas Sheraton (1793). Individual makers took ideas from such engravings, often combining motifs or developing new ideas based on the published sources.

W.2-1946