Armchair
1886-1887 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Armchairs with painted decoration and cane seats, like this example, were very fashionable in the 1790s and again in the 1880s. The light construction and floral decoration suggest that this type of chair was designed for a more feminine setting, such as a drawing room or boudoir.
People
Wright and Mansfield were famous for their furniture in 18th century styles. A satinwood cabinet with Wedgwood plaques made by the firm caused a sensation at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. They specialised in furniture based on the designs of Robert Adam, Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton, whose designs inspired this chair. Their clients included Lord Tweedmouth and the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen. The firm flourished from 1860, firstly at 3 Great Portland Street, and subsequently at 104 New Bond Street, London, where it finally closed in 1886.
Time
In 1886 the South Kensington Museum bought a collection of marquetry panels for interior decoration, two small tables and a pair of these chairs from the sale of the stock of Wright and Mansfield. The Museum wanted to show visitors the difference between these examples of good-quality reproduction furniture made in the 1880s and original furniture of the 1780s.
Armchairs with painted decoration and cane seats, like this example, were very fashionable in the 1790s and again in the 1880s. The light construction and floral decoration suggest that this type of chair was designed for a more feminine setting, such as a drawing room or boudoir.
People
Wright and Mansfield were famous for their furniture in 18th century styles. A satinwood cabinet with Wedgwood plaques made by the firm caused a sensation at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. They specialised in furniture based on the designs of Robert Adam, Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton, whose designs inspired this chair. Their clients included Lord Tweedmouth and the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen. The firm flourished from 1860, firstly at 3 Great Portland Street, and subsequently at 104 New Bond Street, London, where it finally closed in 1886.
Time
In 1886 the South Kensington Museum bought a collection of marquetry panels for interior decoration, two small tables and a pair of these chairs from the sale of the stock of Wright and Mansfield. The Museum wanted to show visitors the difference between these examples of good-quality reproduction furniture made in the 1880s and original furniture of the 1780s.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Painted wood, with replacement cane seat |
| Brief description | An armchair of painted satinwood, the back of shield shape, the seat caned, the front surfaces of back, seat, arms and legs painted with polychrome flowers, in the style of the late 18th century. |
| Physical description | An armchair of painted satinwood on a carcase of beech, the back of shield shape, the seat caned, the front surfaces of back, seat, arms and legs painted with polychrome flowers, in the style of the late 18th century, |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Stamped '4736' under seat rail |
| Gallery label |
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| Object history | This armchair and its pair (239-1887) were purchased by the Museum as examples of contemporary English furniture in the style of the late 18th century, to provide a comparison with original 18th-century pieces. The collecting of English 18th century furniture was a developing interest for collectors, who had, until then, largely concentrated on antique furniture from France or Italy. Wright & Mansfield had first shown pieces made in reproduction of 18th-century styles in the Paris International Exhibition of 1867 (the Museum acquired a cabinet, Museum no. 548-1868). The design is closely related to a set of satinwood drawing-room furniture (including 18 armchairs) made by the London firm of Seddon, Sons & Shackleton in 1790, of which the Museum was to go on to acquire three examples (W.1-1968 to W.3-1968), although the dimensions differ and the 1887 chairs have narrower backs. Another armchair, of the same model, and also by Seddon, Sons & Shackleton, but probably not from the same set, was acquired by the Museum in 1936 (W.59-1936). A closely related suite made by Wright & Mansfield, consisting of a settee, armchair and three chairs, was offered for sale by Cheffins, Cambridge, 13 September 2018, lot 414. |
| Summary | Object Type Armchairs with painted decoration and cane seats, like this example, were very fashionable in the 1790s and again in the 1880s. The light construction and floral decoration suggest that this type of chair was designed for a more feminine setting, such as a drawing room or boudoir. People Wright and Mansfield were famous for their furniture in 18th century styles. A satinwood cabinet with Wedgwood plaques made by the firm caused a sensation at the International Exhibition in London in 1862. They specialised in furniture based on the designs of Robert Adam, Thomas Chippendale, George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton, whose designs inspired this chair. Their clients included Lord Tweedmouth and the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen. The firm flourished from 1860, firstly at 3 Great Portland Street, and subsequently at 104 New Bond Street, London, where it finally closed in 1886. Time In 1886 the South Kensington Museum bought a collection of marquetry panels for interior decoration, two small tables and a pair of these chairs from the sale of the stock of Wright and Mansfield. The Museum wanted to show visitors the difference between these examples of good-quality reproduction furniture made in the 1880s and original furniture of the 1780s. |
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| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 240:1, 2-1887 |
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| Record created | July 19, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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