Metamorphic Chinese Export Chair and Library Steps

A 19th century Gothic Revival armchair in carved walnut upholstered in Holland and Sherry turquoise velvet. Inspired both by Japanese design and Eng...

An English Regency neoclassical Egyptian Revival overmantel mirror, ebonized and parcel-gilt, of rectangular form, with pilasters on each sid...

A striking pre-war collage ski poster featuring both photographic and graphic images advertising the alpine resort of Wengen, Switzerland, featuring an e...

A large, original vintage Swiss exhibition poster by celebrated graphic designer, Herbert Matter, for an exhibition at the Museum of Art & Craft in Zu...

A late 19th century Italian or Spanish carved oak octagonal center table, the top with beautifully inlaid specimen marble top decorated with cast brass scallop shells and flower head...

A miniature 19th century 3.5 inch diameter pocket terrestrial globe by C. Abel-Klinger, Nuremberg, Germany, in English for the English speaking markets. Signed with cartouche reading...

A set of Regency mahogany metamorphic library steps, this sturdy armchair unfolds to reveal four leather-inset steps which rest on the cresti...

We are delighted to offer for sale this large and collectable fully restored Regency circa 1810-1820 metamorphic armchair which converts into Library steps attributed to Gillows of Lancaster and London This wonderful piece of English history has been on a journey of restoration, the frame has been washed back and French polished by a Victorian trained polisher, the leather upholstery is all new, it is Italian cattle hide, upholstered plain then hand dyed six times, antiqued and sealed, it has a lovely rich reddish brown colour to it. This chair is larger than any other of its type you would have seen, it is an important and extremely expensive looking thing that commands attention in any setting. You can see the same model made by Gillows currently viewed in the Victorian & Albert Museum, below is an extra from their listing. The period 1800-1825 was a great one for ‘patent’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture This chair, which transforms into a short set of steps for use with bookshelves, is close to a design for a ‘Library Chair’ published in Rudolph Ackermann’s Repository of the Arts in July 1811, which was made by the London firm of Morgan and Saunders, of Catherine Street, Strand. They were well known for their ingenious furniture, including reading chairs with writing surfaces attached and a great variety of travelling beds...

Pair of guinea cane wicker relaxation armchairs, Italian production 1960s.

We are delighted to offer this very large and collectable fully restored Regency circa 1810-1820 metamorphic armchair which converts into Library steps after the original 18th century design by Gillows of Lancaster. This wonderful piece of English history has been on a journey of restoration, the frame has been washed back and French polished by a Victorian trained polisher, the leather upholstery has been stripped back, hand dyed six times, antiqued and sealed, it has a lovely rich reddish brown colour to it. This chair is larger than any other of its type you would have seen, it is a important and extremely expensive looking thing that commands attention in any setting. The original made by Gillows can currently be viewed in the Victorian & Albert museum, below is an extra from their listing. The period 1800-1825 was a great one for ‘patent’ or ‘metamorphic’ furniture This chair, which transforms into a short set of steps for use with bookshelves, is close to a design for a ‘Library Chair’ published in Rudolph Ackermann’s Repository of the Arts in July 1811, which was made by the London firm of Morgan and Saunders, of Catherine Street, Strand. They were well known for their ingenious furniture, including reading chairs with writing surfaces attached and a great variety of travelling beds...

A beautifully hand crafted Olive leather tufted Bench with a Mahogany frame. The Top tilts up revealing a set of 5 Library Stairs. The stairs lock into place and a lower pull out s...

Antique metamorphic mahogany library chair, English Regency circa 1810, after a patented design by Morgan and Sanders, Catherine St, London - a cha...