Chair
Category
Furniture
Date
1770 - 1799
Materials
Elm, beech, velvet, passementerie
Measurements
92.5 x 52 x 50 cm
Collection
Carlyle's House, London
NT 263313
Summary
An elm and ash chair, possibly Scottish, late 18th century, the rectangular back with vertical splats, carved to the top as plumes of feathers, line-incised to the splats and back rails. With a brown velvet seat trimmed with yellow/gold passementerie, horsehair stuffed. Originally part of a set of twelve but with only two now remaining in the house, the other being NT 263309.
Provenance
Owned by Jane and Thomas Carlyle during their occupation of 24 Cheyne Row (then 5 Cheyne Row) until Thomas' death in 1881. Then by descent to the previous owners, the Harland family. Purchased by the National Trust in 2022. It is believed that these are the chairs referred to in the 'Illustrated Memorial Volume of the Carlyle's House Purchase Fund Committee' produced in 1896 by the Carlyle's House Memorial Trust, p.50. 'After the death of Mrs. Welsh, the drawing-room chairs from Templand took the place of the cane chairs....Of the former, twelve in number, two have been presented to the Trust...They are made of English elm, in the style called Chippendale, and are large and substantial, but perhaps too heavy-looking to be called elegant. Almost the only decoration attempted is a hand-carved "Prince of Wales' Feather" at the top of each of the three inner bars of the back.' By descent, Presented to the Carlyle's House Memorial Trust by Mr. and Mrs. A. Carlyle, circa 1896. The National Trust took over the management of Carlyle's House in 1936.