Wing Armchair
1730-1740 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This wing armchair is typical of the 'Queen Anne' pieces that were particularly sought after by collectors in the first half of the 20th century. Its legs are finely carved and the upholstery in woollen tent-stitch embroidery is both colourful and comfortable. It is likely that the upholstery is a replacement because it shows no wear, not even along the front of the seat. As now, it was common practice to remove worn or faded upholstery to make chairs suitable for a fashionable interior. Some dealers bought old textiles (for example bed curtains) and re-used them on chairs but the way that the design here so carefully fits the chair suggests that it was made new in a historic style.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Mahogany, upholstered in woollen tent stitch embroidery |
| Brief description | Wing armchair, fully upholstered in tent stitch embroidery with a deisgn of animals and trees on a rocky landscape, the legs of mahogany, of cabriole form, the front ones carved with hairy paw feet |
| Physical description | Wing armchair, fully upholstered in tent stitch embroidery with a design of animals and trees on a rocky landscape, the legs of mahogany, of cabriole form, the front ones carved with hairy paw feet. The upholstery in polychrome wools shows perched and flying birds. horses and a phoenix . Back and seat covered with green material. Arms and seat frame edged with brass nails, the inner edge of the arms and the edge of the cushion piper. Four cabriole legs - front pair carved on knees with scrolled acanthus leaves - with lions' paw feet. Mounted on original leather castors. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr. F. H. Reed |
| Object history | Given to the V&A by Frederick Howard Reed, in 1953 (see Registered File 53/3610). Mr Reed, who lived at 3 Berkeley House, Hay Hill, Berkeley Square, London, was a considerable collector of English 18th-century furniture. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This wing armchair is typical of the 'Queen Anne' pieces that were particularly sought after by collectors in the first half of the 20th century. Its legs are finely carved and the upholstery in woollen tent-stitch embroidery is both colourful and comfortable. It is likely that the upholstery is a replacement because it shows no wear, not even along the front of the seat. As now, it was common practice to remove worn or faded upholstery to make chairs suitable for a fashionable interior. Some dealers bought old textiles (for example bed curtains) and re-used them on chairs but the way that the design here so carefully fits the chair suggests that it was made new in a historic style. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.68-1953 |
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| Record created | February 16, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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