A Very Original Early Victorian Open Armchair c.1840

SOLD
Origin: English
Period: Early Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1840
Width: 22.5 inches
Height: 35.5 inches
Depth: 22.5 inches (at extremities)

The wonderfully evocative early Victorian period open arm chair, the oak stained to imitate mahogany now beautifully worn, with shepherd’s crook arms over the original rose and ivory floral upholstered seat, to fluted baluster turned front legs with the original brass and ceramic castors stamped 'Cope & Collinson Patent', having a shaped back with carved detailing to the rail, and rear sabre legs surviving in entirely untouched condition.

This handsome chair shows a lived in and consistent amount of wear to its surface both to the wood and its staining and the beautifully faded original upholstery, with an all-over patination and as such proves beautifully decorative and very much of the country house. The whole has no breakages or restoration and it is in entirely un-meddled with and untouched condition. The edgings to the upholstery are a little tired and there are some small losses and tears to the corners. It is rare to find a chair that has not had its upholstery changed, its castors changed or lost and its carcass altered so this proves a pleasing find.

The castors are stamped 'Cope & Collinson Patent', many pieces by Gilllows are stamped with the same mark to their castors and the fluted legs to this chair are also Gillows-esque. These quality castors were only fitted to the best furniture of the time.

The clean Grecian lines of the Regency period were out of favour by 1835 replaced by more serious furniture, more imposing, rounded, with ample ornament, decoration, curving, and gloss. The masses wanted furniture that was showier with plenty of curves, as this example is showing in its curved back.

This chair has just stepped out of the 1840s and it hasn’t changed a bit. Wonderful.
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