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Description: | The influence of China on English design can been seen clearly on this walnut side chair. The yoke shaped top rail has a central paper-scrolled motif above a dramatic ergonomic, bended' baluster splat, which is a fine example of its genre. The splat terminates into a precursor to the loose shoe;' in this example the shoe is integral to the back seat rail. The rounded back posts are shaped to reflect the ergonomics of the splat and copy the Chinese prototype. (Clunas, Craig, Chinese Furniture, V&A Publications, 1997, p. 23). However, unlike the Chinese models' the English back legs do not drop vertically but rather sweep back in a square cabriole form to balance the front legs to ensure the chairs stability. Consequently, the back leg is a remarkable example of the virtuosity of the chair maker's craft at this period. The seat is trapezoidal in shape with seat rails, cut in to lighten them, that have sharp front corners and flare slightly to the sides. The seat rails are veneered in cross-grain walnut and retain the sophisticated early detail of a slender cock-beaded edge. The front legs are panelled cabriole legs that are united by a waved H-form stretcher. The chair is also unusual in that the veneered splat has marquetry stringing and a star form that is inlaid using a tarsia certosina technique. This is a late feature on this chair. The top rail may well be an eighteenth century replacement of good quality, possibly executed by an estate carpenter. Additions And Alterations: Early replaced top rail; restoration to bottom of splat, back legs and underframe; twentieth century upholstery. | Source: | Vads | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=9126... | Go to resource |
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