Set of Regency Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps

A Regency mahogany library chair, of rectangular form, the arms with padded elbow rests and turned tapering legs with brass castors, originally caned but now with two re-upholstered ...

A William lV shaped mahogany library chair of generous proportions. Reupholstered in our own workshops in distressed burgundy leather. Raised on turned legs and brass casters.  

The broadly rectangular form of this chair is ornamented with curving cabriole back legs, reeded and anthemion carved front legs and sinuous arm rests. Crafted from the finest rosewo...

A fine pair of Regency mahogany armorial hall chairs attributed Gillows, each with an ogee back supported on C-scrolls and circular dished seat raised on turned and reeded outswept f...

Absolutely unique Regency style arm chair library step combo - a metamorphic chair Wow - have you seen any thing like this? Great space saving piece with double purpose Perfect for t...

A Regency style mahogany metamorphic library chair after an English model by Morgan and Sanders. When closed, the piece is a comfortable chair with a caned seat. It opens to reveal 4...

With horizontal tablet crestrail with scrolled ends over down scrolled arms raised on saber legs, chair folds forward to form a ladder.

We are delighted to offer for sale this large and collectable lightly restored William IV circa 1830 Flamed Mahogany, metamorphic armchair which converts into Library steps attributed to Gillows of Lancaster and London. This is a wonderful piece of English history, I have never seen another with such elegant turned front legs, usually they are plainer and straight timber. The seat pad has been upholstered with a grey linen, the steps and raw flamed mahogany and look amazing. This chair 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...