Panel-back armchair
Category
Furniture
Date
1662
Materials
Carved, turned and joined oak
Measurements
130 x 64 cm
Place of origin
Yorkshire
Order this imageCollection
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
NT 1128063
Summary
An oak double panel-back armchair, English, probably South-West Yorkshire/Derbyshire, dated 1662, probably once inlaid, the inlay now lacking. The cresting rail centred by a grotesque mask beneath a pair of bold 'S'-scrolls flanking a projecting leaf. The upper panel carved with the date 1662 between a pair of flowers and ears of scrolls against a matted ground. The rail above the back panel carved with alternating cartouches, the back panel carved with flowerheads and strapwork scrolls, and possibly the initials 'II'. The downswept arms with scroll-carved ends flanking a boarded seat above a front seat rail with scroll-carved apron centred by a pendant leaf. The arm supports and front legs ring-turned and knopped. With peripheral stretchers. -- Much of the 16th and 17th century oak at Hardwick Hall, the indigenous pieces aside, was probably purchased by the 6th Duke in the 19th century to enhance the Elizabethan feel of the property, much as his contemporary, Charles Winn of Nostell Priory, is known to have done (Westgarth, Raikes). The 6th Duke is recorded, for instance, as having bought 'oak Arm chairs' in 1846.
Provenance
By descent until, following the death of Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1895 - 1950), Hardwick Hall and its contents were accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death duties and transferred to the National Trust, in 1959.
References
Westgarth 2009, M. Westgarth, 'A Biographical Register of Nineteenth Century Antique and Curiosity Dealers', Regional Furniture XXIII (2009), 1 - 205 Raikes, 2003: S.Raikes. ““A cultivated eye for the antique”: Charles Winn and the enrichment of Nostell Priory in the nineteenth century.” Apollo 157.494 (2003): pp.3-8. Rowell, Christopher, 'The 'Bachelor' 6th Duke of Devonshire and Hardwick', in David Adshead and David Taylor, Hardwick Hall: A Great Old Castle of Romance (2016), 263 Westman, Annabel, 'Snug at the Hall': Beds and Canopies and the 6th Duke', in Hardwick Hall: A Great Castle of Old Romance (2016), 269