Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

18th Century Chinese Chippendale Mahogany Gainsborough Library Armchair

$9,451.85
£6,850
€8,051.54
CA$12,855.17
A$14,404.15
CHF 7,497.91
MX$176,212.67
NOK 95,172.10
SEK 89,888.91
DKK 60,106.42
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A very good Chippendale-period mahogany Gainsborough armchair, circa 1760. This is a lovely example of an early-George III Gainsborough library armchair in the sophisticated Chinese taste of the period. With well-executed blind-fret carving to the square legs and arm supports.

 Note the unusual treatment of the gently-outswept padded arms. Furthermore there is subtle shaping to the top of the back. The 'H' stretcher with pierced Gothick carving. Professionally upholstered to a high standard and overstuffed in a neutral soft velvet, with float buttons and close nailed. Raised on old brass castors. Lovely, rich, old colour and patina. In excellent condition with a sturdy frame throughout. These Georgian library armchairs are sometimes also known as Martha Washington chairs in the United States (a type of antique armchair made in England in the eighteenth century). The chair was very comfortable, generously proportioned, with an upholstered back and seat, open sides and short arms. Literature: R.W. Symonds, 'The Present State of Old English Furniture' (1921). See ''A mahogany chair showing the influence of the fashionable Chinese taste in the legs and stretchers'’ fig. 89, col. N. Ralph Edwards CBE FSA, 'Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture' (Fourth edition 1972) p.145, ill. 3, dated ca 1760. Thomas Chippendale, 'The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director' (1753-62). References: Wikipedia - Thomas Chippendale. Gainsborough chair.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 38.59 in (98 cm)Width: 27.17 in (69 cm)Depth: 26.38 in (67 cm)
  • Style:
    George III (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1760
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Minor historic restoration entirely commensurate with age. Superb condition throughout. Wear consistent with age and use. Lovely, rich, old colour and patina. In excellent condition with a sturdy frame throughout.
  • Seller Location:
    Lymington, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BHA 12461stDibs: LU4081127591222

More From This Seller

View All
18th Century Carved Mahogany Library Bergère Armchair
Located in Lymington, GB
An English 18th-century carved mahogany library armchair - or bergère - of good rich colour. George III, circa 1780. This antique Sheraton-period armchair, sometimes described as a bergère (bergere) chair, is raised on reeded square tapering legs which merge, headed by a carved rosette panel...
Category

Antique 1780s English George III Bergere Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

Rare 18th Century Mahogany Cockpen Armchair
Located in Lymington, GB
A rare 18th-century mahogany Cockpen open armchair of very good quality. George III-period, ca 1760. This antique armchair is in mahogany with a chinoiserie open-fretwork (or Chines...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English George III Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Rare 18th Century Mahogany Cockpen Armchair
Located in Lymington, GB
A rare 18th-century mahogany Cockpen armchair. George III-period, ca 1762. A sophisticated antique Cockpen armchair in mahogany. With chinoiserie ope...
Category

Antique 18th Century English George III Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Early 18th Century Walnut Wing Chair
Located in Lymington, GB
An early-18th century walnut wing armchair. Queen Anne/ George I-period, ca 1714. This fine English walnut wingback chair is raised on well-drawn carved cabriole legs. With a lovely kick on the back legs. Remarkably, after some 310 years, it still retains its original gros-point needlework upholstery in vibrant colors. Of superb proportions, color, figuring and patination. Measures: H 106 cm (42'') D 68 cm (27''). W 87.5 cm (34 1/2''). Seat H: 42.5 cm. (16 3/4''). Literature: Herbert Cescinsky 'English Furniture Of The Eighteenth Century', George Routledge & Sons (1911) vol. I, p. 81, fig. 105. ''A walnut easy chair'' dated 1710. Nb. A slightly earlier antique walnut and beech wing armchair with contemporary needlework, circa 1710, sold in Christies, Lot 164, October 2015 @ £48,350 -The Property of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sothebys sold a George II needlework...
Category

Antique Early 18th Century English Georgian Wingback Chairs

Materials

Walnut

Fine Pair 18th Century Robert Manwaring Carved Mahogany Library Armchairs
By Robert Manwaring
Located in Lymington, GB
A fine pair of mid-eighteenth century carved mahogany library armchairs attributed to Robert Manwaring, ca 1760. Crisply carved, of superb colour and...
Category

Antique 1760s English Chinese Chippendale Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Set of Four 18th Century Satinwood Painted Armchairs - Seddon, Sons & Shackleton
Located in Lymington, GB
A fine and very rare set of four English late-18th century satinwood painted armchairs attributed to Seddon, Sons & Shackleton, ca 1790. Nb. It is not only quite difficult to find a...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English George III Chairs

Materials

Satinwood

You May Also Like

Antique George III period mahogany Gainsborough library armchair
Located in London, GB
A mid-18th Century mahogany Gainsborough Library Armchair having serpentine top with shaped set-back arms with moulded carving. The Chair, with serpentine front supported on acanthu...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

18th Century George III Carved Mahogany Gainsborough Armchair
Located in Dublin 8, IE
18th Century George III carved mahogany Gainsborough armchair with a gently curved upholstered back and carved, shaped arms, complete with scrolled handles and leaf-carved moldings t...
Category

Antique 18th Century Irish George III Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century English Chippendale Style Mahogany Gainsborough Armchair
Located in London, GB
A fine quality mid-19th century Chippendale style mahogany Gainsborough armchair, having serpentine back above acanthus leaf and blind fret carved set-back arms supported on fret car...
Category

Antique 19th Century English Chippendale Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Stunning 18th Century George III Period Mahogany Chippendale Armchair
By Thomas Chippendale
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A late 18th century, George III period Chippendale Cuban mahogany armchair, the shaped crest rail with carved 'c' scroll ends above the wide, carved, pierced splat and bold out scrolling arms. The padded upholstered seat raised on moulded Marlborough legs ending on bun feet united by traditional 'H' stretchers. The dimensions are: Height: 98cm (38.6in) Width: 72cm (28.3in) Depth: 49cm (19.3in) Very comfortable seating. This chair has recently been professionally reupholstered. A rather pleasing example. In good antique condition throughout with some signs of age. The seat has recently been professionally reupholstered and remain in good, clean condition. The antique carved armchair...
Category

Antique 18th Century British George III Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

An 18th-Century English George III Hand-Carved Mahogany Open Armchair
Located in New York, NY
An 18th-Century English George III Hand-Carved Mahogany Open Armchair. The rectangular backrest has a subtly curved crest rail and is fully upholstered, extending into padded arms t...
Category

Antique 1770s English George III Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Antique George III period carved mahogany armchair
Located in London, GB
A Mid-18th Century Chippendale period mahogany Library Gainsborough Armchair having acanthus carved set-back arms supported on fluted legs with leaf carving to the lower sections.
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany