Open armchair
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1630 (and later)
Materials
Oak, holly, fruitwood, brass
Measurements
109 x 66 x 61 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Bateman's, East Sussex
NT 760818
Summary
An oak panel-back open armchair, English, early 17th century. With some later elements, including the seat, and the panel in the back. Upholstery tack marks suggest that this chair may once have been upholstered, but the turned front arm supports and seat rails indicate that whilst it may have been upholstered at some point, it was not originally intended as an upholstered chair. With moulded toprail between uprights with decorative metal studding near their tops and lacking finials. The back panel inlaid with holly and fruitwood in the manner of a backgammon or games board. The seat board replaced and above rails with sunken carving, pierced with circles at their centre and with circular ends. The arms - also with metal studs - downswept and on reel and baluster-turned supports descending to similarly turned front legs, with upper and lower reels. With foot stretchers. The feet reduced in height.
Provenance
Listed in the Small Hall (Lobby) in the Inventory taken at Bateman's in 1939. Bequeathed by Caroline Starr Balestier, Mrs Rudyard Kipling (1862-1939) with Bateman’s and its contents.