Chair Table
1620-1650 (made), 1870-1930 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Metamorphic chair-table that can be configured as an armchair with high panel back or a small table. The chair-back composed of a rectangular panel, decorated with applied carved geometrical 'jewel' ornament with a central arch. The side and front seat rails with applied jewel ornaments on 'cartouche' backplates. The chair-back is hinged to the back of the arms by two fixed metal pins. A groove in the chair-back/table top slides over the pin when the table top moves between vertical/horizontal positions. In its vertical position the bottom of the chair back is housed is deep slots cut in the back of the rear feet. engaged in grooves cut in the back legs. To form a table, the back is raised until it clears the grooves and falls forward onto the arms. The arms, rectangular in section, dip slightly in the centre and and have rounded handles. The turned front legs/ arm supports and the back uprights are joined by four narrow, plain rectangular stretchers. The chair seat is composed of two boards with moulded front and sides which rest on the seat rails. The rearmost board is pegged to the rails, the foremost board is loose, giving access to a shallow compartment, the floor formed by five front-to-back boards nailed to the underside of the rails.
Joined construction. The table top is composed of 3 butted boards nailed to a morticed sub-frame. Note that the back uprights are tenoned into the arms, whereas on a conventional armchair the arms would be tenoned into the uprights.
Modifications
Replaced rail along the bottom of the chair back.
Cross-grain shrinkage split in one board of the back.
Losses of several jewels.
Nailed repairs to rear right foot slot.
Left arm with replaced upper section.
Small losses to front seat board.
Dark stain overall.
Joined construction. The table top is composed of 3 butted boards nailed to a morticed sub-frame. Note that the back uprights are tenoned into the arms, whereas on a conventional armchair the arms would be tenoned into the uprights.
Modifications
Replaced rail along the bottom of the chair back.
Cross-grain shrinkage split in one board of the back.
Losses of several jewels.
Nailed repairs to rear right foot slot.
Left arm with replaced upper section.
Small losses to front seat board.
Dark stain overall.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | oak, turning, carving |
| Brief description | Chair table, oak, English, c 1650, 48/1996 |
| Physical description | Metamorphic chair-table that can be configured as an armchair with high panel back or a small table. The chair-back composed of a rectangular panel, decorated with applied carved geometrical 'jewel' ornament with a central arch. The side and front seat rails with applied jewel ornaments on 'cartouche' backplates. The chair-back is hinged to the back of the arms by two fixed metal pins. A groove in the chair-back/table top slides over the pin when the table top moves between vertical/horizontal positions. In its vertical position the bottom of the chair back is housed is deep slots cut in the back of the rear feet. engaged in grooves cut in the back legs. To form a table, the back is raised until it clears the grooves and falls forward onto the arms. The arms, rectangular in section, dip slightly in the centre and and have rounded handles. The turned front legs/ arm supports and the back uprights are joined by four narrow, plain rectangular stretchers. The chair seat is composed of two boards with moulded front and sides which rest on the seat rails. The rearmost board is pegged to the rails, the foremost board is loose, giving access to a shallow compartment, the floor formed by five front-to-back boards nailed to the underside of the rails. Joined construction. The table top is composed of 3 butted boards nailed to a morticed sub-frame. Note that the back uprights are tenoned into the arms, whereas on a conventional armchair the arms would be tenoned into the uprights. Modifications Replaced rail along the bottom of the chair back. Cross-grain shrinkage split in one board of the back. Losses of several jewels. Nailed repairs to rear right foot slot. Left arm with replaced upper section. Small losses to front seat board. Dark stain overall. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | CHAIR-TABLE
ENGLISH; about 1650
Turned and carved oak with applied ornament
The back can be converted into a table-top.(pre October 2000) |
| Object history | Bought for £150 from S.W.Wolsey Ltd., 71 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1. RP 48/1996 On loan to Oxfordshire County Council Jan 1987 Dating Several features suggest that this chair may have been created between c1870-1930: lack of any wear on the feet or stretchers, the consistently sharp, flat faces of rails and stretchers (apparently machine-cut), the very regular cutting of the 'jewel' ornaments, the even, dark stain overall, and the very pale, fresh wood colour revealed where ornaments have become detached. The possibility, also considered, that the chair-table was created c1900 from a 17th century armchair sub-frame (below the arms), with added ornaments does not seem likely given the lack of wear on the feet. Note from file: 'Perhaps the most famous example of a table/chair is at Cothele, recordrd there in the early 19th century.' Silimar chair at Melford Hall. |
| Bibliographic reference | See 909-1907 in Table Catelogue no 24.
Apollo 1'44: Wolsey advert, 'Oak chair table. James I. circa A.D. 1625'
Eric Mercer, 'The Social History of Decorative Arts - Furniture 700-1700, London 1969, NAL: 47.5.59 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.45-1948 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 15, 2001 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
