62/1993
Collection
Furniture
Brief description
Oak armchair with parquetry banding, inlaid decoration and carved details, made in the west of England c.1600-1640.
Object name
chair
armchair
armchair
Object number
62/1993
Location
On Display
Production date
c.1600-1640 (manufactured)
Production place
England (manufactured)
Period
Tudor (1485-1603)
Stuart (1603-1714)
Stuart (1603-1714)
Material
oak
ebony
fruitwood
bog oak
holly
ebony
fruitwood
bog oak
holly
Technique
joined
carved
inlaid
turned
carved
inlaid
turned
Physical description
Joined oak armchair dating from c.1620. The back has an arched, double- scrolled cresting and two colour inlaid parquetry (geometric marquetry) top rail over a carved arched panel inlaid with an ‘endless knot’ in two colours. Unusually it has fluted stiles and down curved arms terminating in turned and blocked supports. The boarded seat has an applied ovolo-moulded (convex moulded) edge, on shaped and moulded rails and ‘gunbarrel’ legs. The forelegs are joined by a peripheral stretcher on compressed ball feet. The chair has shaped cresting and reeded uprights, and its front legs are in the form of Doric columns.
The colour is dark brown, with relatively even patination while the back and the underside of the seat are coloured with a dark stain and there is worm damage to the top of the right stile. The arms have been re-fixed with plugged screws passing from the back of the stiles into the tenons. The inlaid work on the top rail has been repaired and losses replaced on more than one occasion, there are also some losses to the inlay on the back panel. The top rail has a empty dowel socket which might originally have accommodated a finial. The seat has been refixed with nails securing it to the rails, as have the edge mouldings while the underside of the seat has been braced with oak struts placed diagonally across the front corners and screwed into the rails. There is some wear to the front stretcher and the legs have been reduced in height and the turned feet are replacements.
The colour is dark brown, with relatively even patination while the back and the underside of the seat are coloured with a dark stain and there is worm damage to the top of the right stile. The arms have been re-fixed with plugged screws passing from the back of the stiles into the tenons. The inlaid work on the top rail has been repaired and losses replaced on more than one occasion, there are also some losses to the inlay on the back panel. The top rail has a empty dowel socket which might originally have accommodated a finial. The seat has been refixed with nails securing it to the rails, as have the edge mouldings while the underside of the seat has been braced with oak struts placed diagonally across the front corners and screwed into the rails. There is some wear to the front stretcher and the legs have been reduced in height and the turned feet are replacements.
Dimensions
Height: 116cm
Width: 68cm
Depth: 40cm
Width: 68cm
Depth: 40cm
Website keywords
seating
Label
Label text, Geffrye Museum, date unknown:
Armchair, English oak inlaid with ebony and fruitwood parquetry, c1620.
Label text for 1630 Period Room (Room 1), Geffrye Museum, 2010:
Armchair
Sometimes known as the ‘great chair’, this type of chair would have been used by the head of the household or the most important guest. It may have been pulled up to the table if needed, but was probably mostly used by the fireside. The back of the chair is decorated with carving and inlaid woods.
Oak, with inlaid decoration of bog oak and fruitwood, c1620
Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Armchair
Oak
Made in the West of England, 1600–40
This chair shows an assortment of different influences. Some parts are inspired by architecture; the legs are carved to look like simple columns, and scrolls decorate the top of the chair back. They refer back to the architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome, and furniture made at this time was influenced by the renewed interest in classical civilizations which happened during the Renaissance.
Label text for a touchscreen computer programme displayed in the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Introduction
Chairs like this were sometimes known as ‘great chairs’ and were the seat of authority in a middling home. This chair has elements of classical architecture that were influenced by the Renaissance. The geometric design in the centre hints at influences from the Middle East and medieval bookbindings. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of this chair, (object number 62/1993), caption 'Armchair, oak, made in west of England, c.1600-1640.']
Global Connections: Middle East: Turkey
The geometric ‘strapwork’ design on the back of this chair shows Middle Eastern influences. In the fifteenth century such design elements were imported to Europe and fed into the development of ‘arabesque’ decoration in Renaissance ornament. [This information was displayed alongside a detailed photograph of the strapwork decoration on the back of this chair, (object number 62/1993), caption 'Detail of geometric strapwork on back of armchair.']
Global Connections: Europe: Greece
The carved legs and arm supports of this chair resemble the simplest form of classical column from ancient Greece, known as the Doric style. Other classical elements include the swirling designs at the top of the chair, known as volutes, and the palm leaves around the central arch. [This information was displayed alongside a detailed photograph of the arm support of this armchair, caption 'Detail of Doric column turning on arm support of armchair.']
Global Connections: Europe: Italy
The archway in the centre back resembles the triumphal arches of the Roman Empire. The carved legs and arm supports of this chair resemble columns that were adopted by the ancient Romans from Greek sources. [This information was displayed alongside a detailed photograph of the decoration on the back of this chair, (object number 62/1993), caption 'Detail of arch on back of chair.']
Romanesque:
The arch on the back of this chair takes its form from Romanesque architecture. It is a style based on the revival of ancient Roman forms that were observed on the ruins of structures like triumphal arches or aqueducts. Such arches were a common feature of medieval cathedrals. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of Romanesque arches in Durham Cathedral, caption 'Romanesque arches, Durham Cathedral.']
Print Culture:
The geometric pattern in the centre of this chair resembles patterns found on medieval book bindings and shows Middle Eastern influences. It could have been inspired by the patterns on Islamic book covers, or derived from a collection of engraved ornament designs which were available in Europe from the sixteenth century onwards. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of a Qur'an manuscript with a tooled goatskin binding made in Marakesh in c.1256 in the British Library collection, shelfmark Or13292, caption 'Goastskin binding made in Marakesh, c.1256, Or 13192.']
A full transcript of this information and associated images is available on the object history file.
Armchair, English oak inlaid with ebony and fruitwood parquetry, c1620.
Label text for 1630 Period Room (Room 1), Geffrye Museum, 2010:
Armchair
Sometimes known as the ‘great chair’, this type of chair would have been used by the head of the household or the most important guest. It may have been pulled up to the table if needed, but was probably mostly used by the fireside. The back of the chair is decorated with carving and inlaid woods.
Oak, with inlaid decoration of bog oak and fruitwood, c1620
Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Armchair
Oak
Made in the West of England, 1600–40
This chair shows an assortment of different influences. Some parts are inspired by architecture; the legs are carved to look like simple columns, and scrolls decorate the top of the chair back. They refer back to the architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome, and furniture made at this time was influenced by the renewed interest in classical civilizations which happened during the Renaissance.
Label text for a touchscreen computer programme displayed in the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Introduction
Chairs like this were sometimes known as ‘great chairs’ and were the seat of authority in a middling home. This chair has elements of classical architecture that were influenced by the Renaissance. The geometric design in the centre hints at influences from the Middle East and medieval bookbindings. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of this chair, (object number 62/1993), caption 'Armchair, oak, made in west of England, c.1600-1640.']
Global Connections: Middle East: Turkey
The geometric ‘strapwork’ design on the back of this chair shows Middle Eastern influences. In the fifteenth century such design elements were imported to Europe and fed into the development of ‘arabesque’ decoration in Renaissance ornament. [This information was displayed alongside a detailed photograph of the strapwork decoration on the back of this chair, (object number 62/1993), caption 'Detail of geometric strapwork on back of armchair.']
Global Connections: Europe: Greece
The carved legs and arm supports of this chair resemble the simplest form of classical column from ancient Greece, known as the Doric style. Other classical elements include the swirling designs at the top of the chair, known as volutes, and the palm leaves around the central arch. [This information was displayed alongside a detailed photograph of the arm support of this armchair, caption 'Detail of Doric column turning on arm support of armchair.']
Global Connections: Europe: Italy
The archway in the centre back resembles the triumphal arches of the Roman Empire. The carved legs and arm supports of this chair resemble columns that were adopted by the ancient Romans from Greek sources. [This information was displayed alongside a detailed photograph of the decoration on the back of this chair, (object number 62/1993), caption 'Detail of arch on back of chair.']
Romanesque:
The arch on the back of this chair takes its form from Romanesque architecture. It is a style based on the revival of ancient Roman forms that were observed on the ruins of structures like triumphal arches or aqueducts. Such arches were a common feature of medieval cathedrals. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of Romanesque arches in Durham Cathedral, caption 'Romanesque arches, Durham Cathedral.']
Print Culture:
The geometric pattern in the centre of this chair resembles patterns found on medieval book bindings and shows Middle Eastern influences. It could have been inspired by the patterns on Islamic book covers, or derived from a collection of engraved ornament designs which were available in Europe from the sixteenth century onwards. [This information was displayed alongside a photograph of a Qur'an manuscript with a tooled goatskin binding made in Marakesh in c.1256 in the British Library collection, shelfmark Or13292, caption 'Goastskin binding made in Marakesh, c.1256, Or 13192.']
A full transcript of this information and associated images is available on the object history file.
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© Museum of the Home, London
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© Museum of the Home, London
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