A walnut side chair with upholstered drop-in seat and back.
Identifier
FPF086
Title
A walnut side chair with upholstered drop-in seat and back.
Date
1900-1920, part c.1730
Description
A walnut and walnut-veneered side chair with cabriole legs and upholstered drop-in seat and back.
Full Description
This walnut side chair has a dipped crest rail with rounded cusped corners, continuous with the back posts, which are waisted. The back is cross-grain walnut veneered on oak and has an edge moulding. It encloses an inner frame for an upholstered back panel covered in a modern red damask and secured with 19th or early 20th century steel turn-buttons on the rear face, which is covered in red cloth. The waisted seat rails are also cross-grain walnut veneered on oak, with an edge moulding, framing a compass (rounded) upholstered drop-in seat. There are carved scallop shells on the seat rail at the front corners, where the front legs meet the rail. The front cabriole legs, which are solid walnut, have ‘C’ scrolls and lappets carved at the knees, and the solid walnut cabriole back legs are flared. The legs terminate in pad feet.
Although at first sight this appears to be a chair dating to around 1730, it was almost certainly made up in the late 19th or early 20th century, using the front legs and seat rails of an 18th century chair. The back and seat are narrower, and the overall shaping of the chair is more stilted than would be expected of an 18th century chair; the upholstered back panel would also be a highly unusual feature in a chair of that date. The steel turn-buttons and the use of oak rather than beech as a secondary timber further indicate that this is a made-up chair.
It is reasonable to assume this chair was made to deceive and was sold to Frederick Parker as such, who paid a considerable sum for it.
Although at first sight this appears to be a chair dating to around 1730, it was almost certainly made up in the late 19th or early 20th century, using the front legs and seat rails of an 18th century chair. The back and seat are narrower, and the overall shaping of the chair is more stilted than would be expected of an 18th century chair; the upholstered back panel would also be a highly unusual feature in a chair of that date. The steel turn-buttons and the use of oak rather than beech as a secondary timber further indicate that this is a made-up chair.
It is reasonable to assume this chair was made to deceive and was sold to Frederick Parker as such, who paid a considerable sum for it.
Condition
The front legs and front and side seat-rails appear to be 18th century and rest of the chair is later. The front left ear is probably a replacement.
Materials
Walnut.
Oak.
Upholstery.
Oak.
Upholstery.
Physical Dimensions
H. 107
W. 61
D. 51
W. 61
D. 51
Marks
Stamped ‘III’ on left hand seat rail, indicating this is one of a set.
Parker Numbers
OM 5993, pattern no. 4398. See Frederick Parker Archive, Box 55, Ms. FPA050, page 126.
Provenance
Purchased by Frederick Parker & Sons in December 1921 from Clifford for £15.0.0
