Lot 70
  • 70

An English oak panel back box seat armchair 16th century

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • 118cm. high, 55cm. wide; 3ft. 10½in., 1ft. 9¾in.
the back with twin cruciform motifs and stamped decoration to the shaped cresting, the channelled frieze rail above twin panels with shaped arms and boarded seat, the rear uprights with later applied brackets at the base

Literature

Illustrated and discussed Michael Dann, The English Smile; English Furniture and The Renaissance 1490-1590, Plymouth, 2005, p. 118-122.

Condition

Attractive patination. A lot of wear with chipping, indents and marks. Old fragmenting on cresting and loss of finials. Old repairs to the right arm including replaced section of panel. One arm pierced at the front. Some fragmenting and warping to seat. The right side with fragmenting to the base. Rear with later applied brackets at the base. Lacking a front stretcher rail.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

This shaped cresting rail, its gauge of thickness and decorative markings recall the apron rails seen on early boarded seating see The Adler Collection, these rooms, 24th February 2005, lot 54, lots 59-63 and lot 68.

For a comparative box seat armchair of the same quality see The Clive Sherwood Collection, Sotheby's Olympia, 22nd May 2002, lot 298. This chair features the same channel moulding and has the same shaped arms.

Dann discusses the relationship between furniture from Italy and pieces produced in the West Country during this early period. There are strong parallels with the Glastonbury type folding chair - boldly shaped arms and slim channel moulded uprights, see Victor Chinnery, Oak Furniture The British Tradition, Woodbridge, 1979, p. 232. This type of folding chair has direct parallels with Italian examples see The Figdor Collection, Berlin, 1930, p. 643-644. This reinforces English knowledge of and the adaptation of forms and styles from mainland Europe.