Open armchair
after Thomas Hope (1769-1831)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1810 - 1815
Materials
Oak, cane, loose textile cushion
Measurements
86 x 63 x 73 cm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 850083
Summary
An oak and cane 'Klismos' open armchair, after a design by Thomas Hope, English, circa 1810 The curved top rail with raised faux stud work above a scroll and anthemion horizontal stretcher. The arms with anthemion carved terminals held by scroll carved supports and leopard head terminals. The caned seat on reeded turned front legs headed by roundels and sabre back legs. With a loose textile seat cushion. Possibly originally painted.
Full description
This 'Grecian' klismos chair reflects the work of the pre-eminent designer Thomas Hope in the early 19th century. Hope was greatly influenced by his extensive Grand Tour travels across Europe as well as Greece, Turkey and Egypt. Hope’s Duchess Street home became the showcase for his vision of antiquity across different cultures, incorporating Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Indian elements. Hope officially opened his home in 1802 to visitors, and the Prince of Wales made an appearance at the grand opening. Hope went on to publish his designs in 1807 with full measurements as a way to encourage accurate imitation of his work rather than the lesser copies that were being produced by his contemporaries. His publication Household Furniture and Interior Decoration was notable for the manner in which it represented furniture designs in outline only, eliminating any sense of depth, shadow, or stylistic contrasts. Hope’s decision to depict his designs in this way reflects his fundamental allegiance to the Neo-classical aesthetic. See Edward T. Joy, English Furniture 1800-1851, London, 1977, p. 83 Sotheby's ‘The Evill / Frost Collection III’ 16-06-2011 lot 335 for a very similar chair. Hope, Thomas - Household Furniture and Interior Decoration,1807 plates 11 & 19 for comparable design features. Smith, George - A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture, 1808 plate 42 'Library Fauteuil' James Weedon (May 2017)
Provenance
Part of the Bristol Collection. Acquired by the National Trust in 1956 under the auspices of the National Land Fund, later the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Makers and roles
after Thomas Hope (1769-1831), furniture designer
References
Joy, Edward Thomas,. The Country Life book of English furniture 1964., pg.83 Hope, Thomas - Household Furniture and Interior Decoration 1807, plates 11, 19 Smith, George 'A collection of Designs for Household Furniture' London 1808