Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

Lovely antique set of five Hepplewhite period country ash chairs dating from circa 1790

Comprising four single and one armchair

Made of solid ash with an attractive grain and a warm, medium brown colour which is paler where the wear is greater

The backs have a gorgeous curvilinear design which is in the Hepplewhite style

As is often the case with Georgian chairs the seats are generous. They are upholstered in a pale dusky pink coloured fabric, which has minor marks here and there but is still very serviceable. The fabric has the appearance of coarse silk but whether it is silk, or cotton, or cotton/man-made mix I cannot say. The fabric has not been removed but the comfortable feel of the seats and the nailed sackcloth underneath all suggest that the chairs have been upholstered in a traditional and professional manner.

The legs, as is typical of the late 18th Century, are square and taper elegantly to the floor. They are joined by two side stretchers and one central stretcher which provide excellent stability.

These chairs would have been made by a country cabinet maker copying the latest London fashion, which in the 1780's and 90's was for the Hepplewhite style. Unable to afford the expense of imported mahogany the cabinet maker turned to a wood, in this case, ash which was available in abundance locally. As many owners of antique Windsor chairs will know, ash is strong and pliable even when cut into relatively thin narrow strips, and this characteristic has no doubt helped these chairs to survive so many generations.

Dimensions:
Single chairs: Height 38 1/2" (98cm)
Seat width 21 1/2" (54.5cm)
Seat depth 18 1/2"

Armchair: Height 38" (97cm)
Seat width 22 1/2" (57cm)
Seat depth 19 1/2" (50cm)
Max width including arms 23 1/2" (60cm)


Condition: These country chairs have survived approximately 230 years and so it probably comes as no surprise that there are some old repairs, particularly on the back of the armchair. A previous owner has gone to some considerable expense, probably before they were most recently upholstered, to have all the joints strengthened. These joint repairs are finished with wooden dowels. As a result of this intervention all joints are firm.