The decorative Regency painted and distressed beech open bergère armchair in a largely original state, having lovely swept arms with black painted decoration with gilt line decorated highlights to simulate ebony and brass, the frame with a caned back to an upholstered swab cushion, turned tapering front legs to rear sabres each with brass castors and surviving from the first quarter of nineteenth century England.
Unknown.
The influences on Regency design and taste were legion; from Sheraton’s neoclassicism, Henry Holland’s Anglo-French taste, the Greek revival of Thomas Hope, and the Chinoiserie favoured by the Prince Regent, to an interest in the Gothic, Old English and rustic. The Regency attitude to interior decoration often involved treating each room as a unit with individual furnishings and wall decorations in harmony of theme or colour scheme. This chair shows some of the French influence at the time but retains English traits.
A very decorative armchair, useable but at the same wonderfully timeworn.
The chair is in good original condition and we have only simply given her a light wax to protect the paintwork which is beautifully worn in the right areas, especially to the elbow areas as one would expect. The upholstery is a little tired but perfectly useable, and one of the rear castors is jammed. There is a small section of loss to the bergère back as photographed.
By appointment only.
