Object Description
A Regency carved mahogany library reading chair attributed to Morgan & Saunders, The bowed arms with rolling ratcheted reading rest and small stationery drawers to the ends with glass ink pots and hinged brass candelabra; above a pierced moulded Gothic arched splat and shaped red leather close-nailed seat on lotus leaf carved legs with brass cups and castors.
Provenance: Property of an Oxfordshire estate.
Circa 1815 Price :£ 14,500-00p.
Height:30.5”,77 cms, Width: 21.25”,54cms, Depth:20.5”, 52 cms.
See P. Agius, Ackermann’s Regency Furniture and Interiors, London, 1984, p.54 which illustrates the comparable design in Ackermann’s, Repository’ of 1810 and explains how this type of chair is meant to be used:’..gentle-men either sit across, with the face towards the desk, contrived for reading, writing &c. and which, by a rising rack, can be elevated at pleasure; or, when its occupier is tired of the first position, it is with greatest ease turned around in a brass grove, to either side or the other; in which case, the gentleman sits sideways. The circling arms in either way form a very pleasant easy back, and also, in every direction, supports for the arms. As a proof of their real comfort and convenience, they are now in great sale at the ware-rooms of the inventors, Messrs. Morgan and Saunders, Catherine Street, Strand.’