Armchair
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1850
Materials
Elm, beech, ash
Measurements
78 x 62 x 54 cm
Place of origin
High Wycombe
Order this imageCollection
Erddig, Wrexham
NT 1147401
Summary
An elm, beech and ash armchair, or smoker's bow, probably High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, mid-19th century. Marked 'W.W 45'. With two-part sawn arm surmounted by a raised and curved cresting. All above six baluster- and ring-turned spindles and two conforming arm supports. The dished seat raised on four splayed legs turned with a ring and 'inverted cup' above a baluster, joined by swelling side, and two central, stretchers. -- The stamp 'W.W' the maker; the number 45 which follows these characters is probably a batch number. These chairs were made in the North East of England, particularly in Worksop, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. However, the inverted cup turnings to the legs are more characteristic of High Wycombe. A catalogue for Glenister & Gibbons (fl. 1865-79), chair makers of Oxford Road, High Wycombe, includes chairs with similar turnings and stretchers.
Provenance
Given by Philip Yorke III (1905-1978) along with the estate, house and contents to the National Trust in 1973.
Marks and inscriptions
Rear of seat: W.W 45
References
Cotton 1990: Bernard D. Cotton, The English Regional Chair, Woodbridge 1990, pp. 95-97