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Fine Pair 18th Century Robert Manwaring Carved Mahogany Library Armchairs

About the Item

A fine pair of mid-eighteenth century carved mahogany library armchairs attributed to Robert Manwaring, ca 1760. Crisply carved, of superb colour and patination throughout. Now covered in blue velvet and close nailed. 'Chinese’ pierced trellis back. Very good movement through the arm. And well carved with foliate detail. Incidentally we have never had a pair of these during the last 67 years. An almost identical chair is illustrated by Ralph Edwards C.B.E., F.S.A. in his seminal and comprehensive 'Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture from the Middle Ages to the Late Georgian Period’ (1969) p. 150, ill. 128: ''Mahogany chair, one of a set; back filled with 'Chinese Railings' c 1760.'' (The late Lt-Col. S. Goldschmidt). Robert Manwaring was a contemporary and imitator of Thomas Chippendale, and not the least considerable of his rivals. He prided himself upon work which he described as “genteel"; his speciality was chairs. He was in business in the mid- to late-18th century at The Haymarket in London, 1760-1765. During a portion of his career, Manwaring was a devotee of the Chinese taste; he likewise practised in the Gothic manner. Manwaring described certain products of his own work as "elegant and superb", and as possessing "grandeur and magnificence". He did not confine himself to furniture but produced many designs for rustic gates and railings; often very extravagant. Literature: Amongst Manwaring's writings were 'The Carpenters' Compleat Guide to Gothic Railing' (1765); and 'Chair-makers' Guide' (1766). Viz ''Chinese Chairs'' in 'The cabinet and Chair-Maker's Real Friend and Companion, or, the Whole System of Chair-making Made plain and easy', plate 10 [sic] London. See Beard and Gilbert, 'The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840' (1986) p. 573. We know about a suite of furniture of at least eight armchairs from Treworgey Manor, near Liskeard, Cornwall. Furthermore four chairs in the collection of the Leeds City Art Galleries at Temple Newsam House, which have been extensively published, including a full history of the suite in Christopher Gilbert, 'Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall' (1978) vol. I, p. 84, no. 69. A chair from Temple Newsam was exhibited at The British Antique Dealers' Association Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, May 1968, no. 44, pl. 105 in the catalogue. Another pair was sold in Sotheby's New York, April 16, 1998, lot 804 ($90,000). See an armchair in Macquoid and Edwards, 'The Dictionary of English Furniture', vol. I (1927) p. 285, fig. 126, and sold, Parke-Bernet Galleries, The Walter P. Chrysler Jr Collection of English Furniture, May 6-7, 1960, part II, lot 371. Further references: Robert Manwaring - Wikipedia.
  • Similar to:
    Robert Manwaring (Maker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 38.98 in (99 cm)Width: 25.2 in (64 cm)Depth: 22.45 in (57 cm)Seat Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)
  • Style:
    Chinese Chippendale (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Mahogany
  • Place of Origin:
    England
  • Period:
    1760-1769
  • Date of Manufacture:
    ca 1760
  • Condition:
    Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. Very crisply carved, of superb colour and patination throughout. Some minor historic repairs entirely commensurate with age. Now covered in fine blue velvet and close nailed.
  • Seller Location:
    Lymington, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BHA 125911841stDibs: LU4081134249272

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