{"product_id":"a-pair-of-late-19thc-irish-vernacular-painted-side-chairs-county-cork","title":"A Pair of Late 19thC Irish Vernacular Painted Side Chairs; County Cork","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: Irish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod: Late 19thC\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: Unknown\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate: c.1890\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWidth: 20.75”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeight: 34.5” or 18” at seat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDepth: 16.5” (all at extremities)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe delightful and increasingly scarce pair of Irish vernacular side chairs, retaining their original deep red painted finish with beautifully worn elm plank seats and charming hand-painted white folk motifs to both the crest and seat rails, previously purchased in Cork, and almost certainly made for domestic use by a local craftsman, the wholes with an honest simplicity having subtly shaped front legs, broad paddle-form crest rails and restrained decorative flourishes giving them their unmistakable regional character and surviving from the last quarter of the nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth chairs remain in solid, usable condition, displaying the expected signs of age and honest use throughout. The painted surfaces have mellowed beautifully with areas of natural rubbing and wear, the elm seats showing decades of use that have created a wonderfully tactile finish. The original painted folk decoration remains visible to the crest rails and front rails, adding considerable charm and authenticity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIrish vernacular furniture was typically made from readily available pine or deal, often painted to protect the timber and brighten dimly lit interiors, making surviving examples with their original decoration particularly appealing. This genre of furniture has enjoyed increasing recognition over recent years as collectors and designers have embraced its sculptural forms, naïve craftsmanship and rich painted surfaces. Pieces from Cork and Munster possess their own distinctive regional identity and sit comfortably alongside Welsh and English country furniture, yet have an individuality all of their own. The survival of matching pairs is considerably less common than single chairs, making these particularly desirable. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn exceptionally decorative pair of Irish country chairs, full of character and originality, equally at home in a period farmhouse, contemporary interior or as sculptural accent pieces where their warm painted surfaces and understated folk-art decoration can be fully appreciated.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58436304437629,"sku":"3167","price":1150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0216\/6074\/files\/pairofirishsidechairs1.jpg?v=1784890459","url":"https:\/\/www.doeandhope.com\/en-us\/products\/a-pair-of-late-19thc-irish-vernacular-painted-side-chairs-county-cork","provider":"Doe \u0026 Hope","version":"1.0","type":"link"}