36/1993-2

Collection

Furniture

Brief description

Armchair made from beech, painted and gilded with a carved lion's paw detail on the arms and a cane seat with a replica squab cushion with cream silk upholstery, probably manufactured in England in c.1810.

Object name

armchair

Object number

36/1993-2

Production date

c.1810 (manufactured)

Production place

England (manufactured)

Period

Georgian (1714-1837)

Material

beech
pigment
gilding
silk
braid
cane

Technique

joined
woven
gilded
stuffed
caned

Physical description

Painted and gilded beech elbow chair with a tableted top rail painted with a key pattern and a classical beast in a gilt tablet in the centre. It has a curved x-shaped splat and a horizontal mid-rail between scrolled arms with carved and gilt paw supports. The chair has a cane seat with a bowed front rail raised on sabre legs with small turned feet. The chair has a replica squab cushion upholstered in cream silk.

Dimensions

Height: 84.5cm
Width: 56.5cm
Depth: 52.5cm
Depth: 56cm

Website keywords

seating
furniture
Decoration and furnishings

Label

Label text, Geffrye Museum, date unknown:
Chair, painted and gilded, with replica cushion, English c1810.

Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):

Armchair
Beech with cane seat and reproduction cushion
Made in England about 1810

This armchair is in a style known as klismos, meaning ‘to lie’ or ‘to rest’ in Ancient Greek. Illustrations of such chairs were found on classical Greek vases and stone reliefs. The geometric pattern on the top rail of the chair is the ‘Greek key’ design. The lion’s paw carving on the arms is also an element used in classical furniture.