Not currently on display at the V&A

Footstool

1800-1810 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This armchair and its accompanying footstool are based on English furniture designs of 1780-1810. However, they are of solid ivory, embellished with gilding, rather than wood. Such furniture was made in Murshidabad, the nawabi capital of Bengal, which was a renowned centre of ivory carving. William Pitt, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan, acquired these pieces in India, where he was Governor-General from 1823 to 1828. According to tradition he purchased them from his predecessor Frances, 1st Marquess Hastings.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Solid ivory, partly turned and gilded, with pink silk upholstery
Brief description
Footstool, solid ivory,carved, turned and pieced and partly gilt, with fbp
Physical description
The footstool is of solid ivory, partly turned and partly gilt. It is decorated with gilt dash borders
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.5cm
  • Width: 27.5cm
  • Depth: 27.5cm
Credit line
Given by the 5th Earl Amherst of Arracan
Summary
This armchair and its accompanying footstool are based on English furniture designs of 1780-1810. However, they are of solid ivory, embellished with gilding, rather than wood. Such furniture was made in Murshidabad, the nawabi capital of Bengal, which was a renowned centre of ivory carving. William Pitt, 1st Earl Amherst of Arracan, acquired these pieces in India, where he was Governor-General from 1823 to 1828. According to tradition he purchased them from his predecessor Frances, 1st Marquess Hastings.
Bibliographic reference
Jaffer, Amin Furniture from British India and Ceylon: A Catalogue of the Collections in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Peabody Essex Museum. London : V&A Publications, 2001. 416 p., ill. ISBN 1851773185, p.257-8, pl.87.
Collection
Accession number
IS.8-1991

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Record createdMarch 10, 2003
Record URL
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