Armchair
1755-1765 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This chair was probably originally one of a set and would have been used in a dining or drawing room.
Materials & Making
The chair is made from walnut, which is unusual for chairs of this quality, as they were normally made of mahogany. The arms appear to have been added after the chair was made, as they are not carved in the same way and have an abrupt joint with the chair-back. The narrow seat is another indication that it was not originally intended as an armchair. The upholstery is of modern green wool.
Design & Designing
The distinctive feature of the this chair is the carving of a single bullrush and leaves which intertwine to form the chair-back. The carving is unusually naturalistic for a chair of this period. The maker might have taken inspiration from Thomas Chippendale's design for a garden chair, which incorporates bullrushes and gardening tools. However, we do not know the maker or the original owner. Natural features such as leaves sometimes indicate that furniture was intended either for a garden building or for a room with garden views. The 'cabriole' or curving legs are also carved with bullrush leaves, while the back legs have club feet.
This chair was probably originally one of a set and would have been used in a dining or drawing room.
Materials & Making
The chair is made from walnut, which is unusual for chairs of this quality, as they were normally made of mahogany. The arms appear to have been added after the chair was made, as they are not carved in the same way and have an abrupt joint with the chair-back. The narrow seat is another indication that it was not originally intended as an armchair. The upholstery is of modern green wool.
Design & Designing
The distinctive feature of the this chair is the carving of a single bullrush and leaves which intertwine to form the chair-back. The carving is unusually naturalistic for a chair of this period. The maker might have taken inspiration from Thomas Chippendale's design for a garden chair, which incorporates bullrushes and gardening tools. However, we do not know the maker or the original owner. Natural features such as leaves sometimes indicate that furniture was intended either for a garden building or for a room with garden views. The 'cabriole' or curving legs are also carved with bullrush leaves, while the back legs have club feet.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Carved walnut, 1755-1765. |
| Physical description | Carved walnut. The back,widening towards thge top rail carved with bulrushes. Centre splat, also carved with bulrushes, joined on each side by members carved as leaves to the side rails. Plain arms of serpentine form; cabriole legs also carved with rushes and rococo scrolls ending in volute feet carved with cabochons. Stuffed overseat covered with modern green damask;reupholstered in 1964. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Acquired from H. Blairman, 23 Grafton Street, London W1. |
| Object history | Acquired from H. Blairman, 23 Grafton Street, London W1. |
| Production | The chair was recovered in 2001 and at that time it was noted that one arm is 2 cm further back where it meets the seat than the other supporting the suggestion made on stylistic grounds that the arms may have been added at a later date. |
| Summary | Object Type This chair was probably originally one of a set and would have been used in a dining or drawing room. Materials & Making The chair is made from walnut, which is unusual for chairs of this quality, as they were normally made of mahogany. The arms appear to have been added after the chair was made, as they are not carved in the same way and have an abrupt joint with the chair-back. The narrow seat is another indication that it was not originally intended as an armchair. The upholstery is of modern green wool. Design & Designing The distinctive feature of the this chair is the carving of a single bullrush and leaves which intertwine to form the chair-back. The carving is unusually naturalistic for a chair of this period. The maker might have taken inspiration from Thomas Chippendale's design for a garden chair, which incorporates bullrushes and gardening tools. However, we do not know the maker or the original owner. Natural features such as leaves sometimes indicate that furniture was intended either for a garden building or for a room with garden views. The 'cabriole' or curving legs are also carved with bullrush leaves, while the back legs have club feet. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.46:1, 2-1952 |
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| Record created | February 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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