156/2010

Furniture

Set of black japanned library or bed steps made from turned mahogany, the three steps are covered with a floor cloth contemporary with the steps, and painted with a running greek key pattern, made in England c.1820.

steps

156/2010

c.1820 (manufactured)

England (manufactured)

Georgian (1714-1837)

mahogany
varnish
hessian
textile
paint

joined
turned
japanned
ebonised
painted
applied
moulded
dyed

A set of black japanned bed steps made from mahogany (Swietenia spp), the frame composed of ring-turned uprights and square horizontals supporting three treads. The treads are each covered with a contemporary painted floor cloth, which appears to have been cut from a runner or stair cloth; the key-pattern border at each side has been reduced to fit the width of the treads. The cloth is made from a coloured composition backed onto a coarse hessian or jute backing.

The construction depends on the two tall rear posts which are turned and blocked where they join with horizontal members. All the joints between the squared elements are mortise and tenon; those between the round members are dowelled. The turned horizontal top rail is dowelled into the top of the rear posts. The treads are formed of deal boards each with an ebonised mahogany boarder on three sides. These boards are glued onto ebonised mahogany rails, which are tenoned into the back posts and into turned supports at the front. The supports of the top step rest upon the horizontal rail below, and the middle step is turn supported on the rails below. The bottom step rests on a frame of mahogany, tenoned into turned feet. It is linked to the back posts by long turned stretchers dowelled at each end.

The frame is essentially sound; the japanning has virtually worn off from the top rail and the upper parts of the back posts, but is substantially intact lower down. All the joints are sound except the left-hand side of the middle step, which has been reinforced with a screw, and the right-hand side of the middle step and the bottom step, which both have a break repaired with two screws, now filled. The treads are bruised and scored from use; the top tread has losses to the cloth at the left back and right front; on the middle and lower treads the cloth is essentially intact. There is considerable wear and scoring to the leading edges of the mahogany mouldings on the treads.

Height: 94.5cm
Width: 52cm

bedroom furniture
floor treatments
staircases
reading