Desk chair
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1750
Materials
Mahogany, silk damask
Measurements
85 x 72 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Sizergh Castle, Cumbria
NT 998123
Summary
A mahogany chair, English, mid-18th century. Once described as corner chairs, this model is now suspected to have been used at a desk, or dressing table, allowing the sitter to sit closer to a writing surface then a standard flat-fronted chair would allow. This example of fine quality mahogany, with scroll-over toprail to the one-piece arm with flat disc terminals. Above a pair of vase-shaped solid splats and three columnar ring-turned struts. The seat with drop-in seat pad upholstered in worn pale yellow and white floral silk damask, and set into deep 'compass'-type seat rails. Raised on four cabriole legs with ball and eagle's talon feet, reminiscent of feet on seat furniture produced by Gillows of Lancaster in the 1750s and 1760s.
Provenance
Photographed in 1906 in the Dining Room in Country Life and in 1908 in the Drawing Room. Given by Henry Hornyold Strickland (1890 – 1975) with Sizergh Castle and its estates in 1950.
Marks and inscriptions
Later pine seat rail: 'John Mashile (?)
References
Scott, 1908: Daniel Scott. The Stricklands of Sizergh Castle. Kendal: [n.p.], 1908., Illustrated p. 256 Sizergh Castle, Country Life (June, 1906), Vol. XIX, No. 495., p. 242