Description
A George II style walnut open armchair. 19th century.
The arms with ‘eagle’ carved terminals.
Raised on ball and claw cabriole legs, well carved at the knees.
The carved eagle is often a typical feature of American and Irish 18th century furniture.
The shaped seat now covered in 18th century gros point needlework of a shepherd in a central panel, surrounded by floral designs.
The needlework retains its fine, vivid colours and is in near perfect condition.
Originally chairs of this period would have had contemporary needlework covers.
Measurements:
H 114 cm.
W 69 cm.
D 82 cm.
Vis. similar carving on a fine chair in the Govenor’s Residence, Tryon Palace, New Bern, N. Carolina, USA.
The design of this antique carved walnut armchair is a re-interpretation of a distinguished group of 18th century prototype examples recorded in the collections of Percival D. Griffiths, Mrs David Gubbay, Clandon Park, Surrey, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. See R. W. Symonds ‘English Furniture from Charles II to George II’ (London, 1929) p. 149, fig. 96 J.
Vis. J. Fowler & J. Cornforth, ‘English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, p. 69, fig. 80.
Ralph Edwards CBE FSA illustrates a similar walnut armchair, arms terminating in eagle heads, ca. 1735, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, ‘The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture’, p. 136, ill. 77 (Hamlyn, London, Fourth Impression 1972).
