An Unusual Mid-19thC Green Velvet Asymmetrical Tub Armchair c.1860

SOLD
Origin: English
Period: Early/Mid Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1850-60
Height: 34” or 17” at seat
Width: 32”
Depth: 29”

The unique iron bound tub type armchair of unusual asymmetrical form, having a curved button back to one circular scroll arm with the other being swept, upholstered in pea green velvet, the whole standing on ring turned front legs to rear sabres and surviving from the middle of nineteenth century England.

The armchair is sturdy and stable and there is no worm or major damages. She stands well and is ready for re-upholstering if so desired. The velvet is passable but there are some red stain marks as photographed. The castors are later replacements.

It is rather difficult to say when the fist tub chair came into use, but they have certainly been around since the sixteenth century as they could be found at British and French royal courts who used them when holding court. As the name suggests the traditional tub chair got its name from the idea of a tub, but in the form of a chair. What defines a tub chair is the way the chair curves around you as you sit in it, with this example having that extraordinary asymmetrical design.

An idiosyncratic, bonkers armchair if ever there was one. You would be entitled to ask why? Well I guess why not…
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