Armchair
John Baldwin (fl.1863)
Category
Furniture
Date
1863
Materials
Oak, polychrome, velvet
Measurements
148.2 x 66.7 x 56.5 cm
Order this imageCollection
Hughenden, Buckinghamshire
NT 428594
Summary
An extraordinary carved oak throne-like chair, English, carved by John Baldwin in 1863. The pointed arch back is carved with Gothic tracery and surmounted by a crest of holly leaves and berries and with fleur de lys pendants beneath, at the centre a small shield bears the Beaconsfield coat of arms, the back is flanked by columnar uprights with finials carved as bearded scribes, the solid seat is fitted with a cushion of red velvet, the arms are boldly carved with mythical beasts, a gryphon and a dragon, each with fleur de lys beneath their bellies, it stands on tapered octagonal legs lightly carved with lozenge scales, headed with a shield and terminating in a block foot, the back of the chair incised in Gothic script 'John Baldwin Sculp 1863', also bearing a paper label S2-B to the back.
Marks and inscriptions
Incised into the rear surface of the back : John Baldwin Sculp 1863 Rear surface of back: S2-B
Makers and roles
John Baldwin (fl.1863), carver