A Charming c.1900 Arts & Crafts Period Oak Open Armchair

SOLD
Origin: English
Period: Late Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1890-1900
Height: 39.5 inches
Width: 20 inches
Depth: 24 inches

The single, once folding, x-framed arts and crafts period open armchair, having the original emerald and gold turkey work carpet upholstered back panel, the frame with arts and crafts studwork and ball finials to the cresting, to a slender oak and satin birch(?) frame having shaped arms and a rush reeded seat to x-frame legs, the legs now nailed closed to prevent folding, the whole surviving from turn of the nineteenth century England.

The chair has a very good patina to its carcass and remains in nice original order, standing well, with some expected movement, and is overall in sound condition. There is one split to one leg at the base and one at an arm joint but they don’t appear to be causing any problems or indeed threatening to become one. The chair is designed to be used relatively lightly so it’s design does not suit heavy use but it does remain strong enough to be used. The seat rushing is in stable order whilst the carpet panel back is perishing at the edges slightly but, again, stable.

Indicative of the arts and crafts period, which held as tenets an appreciation of nature, inspired by traditional, “honest” pre-industrial periods such as mediaeval and Celtic, the design here is simplicity personified, with the original carpet upholstery adding a touch of the bohemian to the utilitarian style.

This chair works particularly well when placed in a corner with a coffee and an accompanying light read.
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