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Armchair: M.4-1992

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Manufacturer: Marsh and Tatham (Possibly)
Designer: Hope, Thomas

Entities

Categories

Description

Mahogany armchair of klismos form with carved ornament and drop-in seat covered with modern pale blue silk.

Mahogany, with curved panelled table back above pierced curved X-shaped splat centred by a flower head, the panelled arms supported by winged lionesses on fluted plinths, the fluted seat-rail on panelled sabre legs. Drop-in seat covered on accession in woven checked horsehair (not original). The back rail and seat are stamped with 'II'.

Notes

History note: Possibly Thomas Hope, Duchess Street, London. Mrs. Marjorie Beatrix Fairbarns; sold Christie's 9 July 1992, Important English Furniture, p. 102, lot, 87; sold for £32,407.50 including premium and VAT to Blairman & Sons, 119 Mount Street, London, W1, from whom purchased by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum with a contribution from the Museums and Galleries Commission Regional Fund administered by the Victoria and Albert Museum

Legal notes

Given by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum with a contribution from the Museums and Galleries Commission Regional Fund administered by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Measurements and weight

Depth: 53 cm
Height: 89 cm
Width: 66.2 cm

Place(s) associated

  • London ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1992-07-20) by The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Dating

George III
19th Century, Early#
Production date: circa AD 1800

Note

The checked horsehair seat cover was replaced by pale blue silk after accession (1992)

The klismos form was derived from chairs depicted on Greek vases. The design of this example corresponds, but not exactly, to front and side views of a chair illustrated in Thomas Hope’s Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, London, 1807, pl. 11, numbers 3 and 4. This work was one of the most influential early nineteenth century sources of furniture designs. A similar chair is shown in R.W. Billings’ drawing of the Flemish Picture Gallery in Hope’s house in Duchess Street, in 1819.

School or Style

Neoclassical

Components of the work

Seat Cover composed of silk (textile) ( pale blue) horsehair fabric
Frame composed of mahogany
Front Height 39 cm
Arms
Plinths, Seat Rail
Seat

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: II
  • Location: Back rail and seat
  • Method of creation: Stamp
  • Type: Number
  • Text: D. Ro
  • Method of creation: Circular label with serrated edge
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.4-1992
Primary reference Number: 95832
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 10 May 2023 Last processed: Wednesday 13 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Armchair" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/95832 Accessed: 2024-12-23 05:31:42

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/95832 |title=Armchair |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-23 05:31:42|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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