A GEORGE II CARVED WALNUT ARMCHAIR

CIRCA 1740

Details

The arms carved with lively acanthus leaves leading to delicately scrolled armrest terminals, the cabriole front legs carved with foliate and acanthus designs, both front and back legs terminating in hoof-form feet, with old collection number inscribed in white paint to proper left back ear, 1963.4F.22
39 in. (99.1 cm.) high, 30 1/2 in. (77.5 cm.) wide, 30 in. (76.2 cm.) deep


Lot Essay

A virtually identical armchair from Harewood House is illustrated in The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture (R. Edwards, London, 1964, pp. 142, 145, pl. 102). The design of this chair , with its unusual and spacious proportions, was undoubtedly influenced by the extraordinary width of 'fashionable costume' which reached its height during this time period. Beginning in the 1730s and continuing into the following decade, the 'whalebone hoop' adopted by ladies continued to widen, until it was almost impossible to pass through doorways without rotating sideways. Chairs of this form with wide seats, high backs, and arms which are set further back on the seat rail were necessary to enable such stylish ladies to sit. The form was useful for men too, whose fashionable coats stretched out wide with flaring skirts, typically stiffened with whalebone (Anon., 'A George II Chair,' Connoisseur, 1966, p. 109).