Object Description
A Very Attractive Pair Of Late 19th Century Oak Hall Seats, Or Window Seats, Having Turned Stretchers To Top With Carrying Handle And Elegant Shaped Decoration To Splat Backs, Over Solid Seats Flanked By Scrolling Silhouette End Supports With Pierced Decoration In The Gothic Taste.
Makers Label – “William A & Sylvanus Smee, 6 Finsbury Pavement, London.”
William Alfred Smee (1829-1886) and Sylvanus Smee (1835-1870) were sons of Wiliam Smee jnr (1797-1856), cabinet-maker and upholsterer and Citizen of London, a member of the Dyers Company. They were grandsons of William Smee (1761-1843) also a cabinet-maker and upholsterer.
The 1851 census shows William Smee jnr employing 90 men and 12 women. William’s three sons were involved in the business: William Alfred, Sylvanus and John Henry Smee (1831-1912). William Smee jnr died in 1856 and by the late 1860s his sons had established separate businesses: W.A. & S. Smee, trading from 6 Finsbury Pavement, and John Henry Smee & Co., trading from 20 Finsbury Pavement.
This lovely quality pair of hall chairs date towards the latter part of the 19th century and are constructed from particularly attractive light golden oak, which gives them a nice warm colour as well as the natural elegance of their design.
In terms of function for the modern home their relatively small size and elegance make them incredibly useful in a whole variety of different ways and one could certainly use their imagination for these lovely chairs. It is worth noting that they are very much still fit for original purpose and surprisingly sturdy for something so small.
Overall they are in good condition for something of their age with just the expected minor old repairs. As with all items which we offer for sale they have been inspected and attended to at our workshops by our specialist antique furniture restorers and received a natural wax polish to ensure they are in their best possible condition before being presented for sale.
Circa 1880.
Height 30.5in.
Width 18.5in.
Depth 16in.
Seat Height 17.25in.