English Metamorphic Library Chair with Steps

We are delighted to offer for sale this sublime original Regency circa 1810-1820 fully restored metamorphic library steps table with oxblood leather steps This is an important and sophisticated piece of English Regency furniture. Every discerning gentleman’s library should have one. They were the height of elegance and technology in the late Georgian to early Victorian era The one is a very fine, fully restored example, the steps are hidden inside the bottom drawer, the idea being you sit this table near a very large library bookcase...

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...

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...

We are delighted to offer for sale this large and collectable vintage metamorphic armchair which converts into Library steps with leather upholstered steps A good looking well mad...

A superb set of antique library steps in the Georgian style. They were made in England, and date from around the 1920’s period. The quality is fantastic, they are very useful for re...

A large and impressive set of antique leather top library steps in the Georgian style. They were made in England, and date from around the 1930’s period. The quality is fantastic, t...

Good English painted breakfront library bookcase. All adjustable shelving. 1840. Dimensions 122 inches (310 cms) Wide 18.5 inches (47 ...

Late 19th century English pine breakfront library bookcase with open adjustable shelves to the top section. 1890. Top section comes off the base. Code: 8794 Dimensions: W: 89" (2...