Summary:

• Item: Regency Pair of Dining Chairs
• Circa: 1825
• Period: George IV / Regency
• Provenance: England, United Kingdom
• Style: Bar Back
• Quantity: Two
• Wood: Solid mahogany
• Curved top rail bar back
• Geometrical ebony inlay
• Reeded vertical supports
• Reeded cross back-splat & floral cartouche
• Turned front legs
• Sabre shaped rear legs
• Newly upholstered stuff-over seats
• Pale grey structured linen upholstery
• Excellent quality timbers
• Original colour
• Excellent condition
• Heavy & solid in joint chairs
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland*
• Free 14-day UK returns policy

Description:

This is a fine quality antique English George IV Regency pair of dining chairs, constructed of solid mahogany, decorated with ebony inlay, circa 1825, which have been newly upholstered, in excellent original condition. These are a pair of transitional chairs, made during the cross-over from the George IV to the Regency period. Constructed with fine quality solid mahogany and decorated with geometric ebonized inlay to the curved bar backs.  Incorporating a central elegant cross-shaped reeded back-splat, featuring a central floral cartouche, with an ebony inlay horizontal splat, flanked by reeded vertical stiles.  The seat frame is raised on ring turned front legs, with sabre shaped legs to the rear.  This Regency pair of dining chairs retain the original polish; therefore, they boast a lovely colour and patination, displaying a lovely rich red and brown colour.  The seats have been newly upholstered to a professional standard in pale grey structured linen upholstery, finished with matching braiding.  The upholstery is therefore clean and free from wear and marks.  If you do not like the colour/style of the upholstery, we can recover the seats in a fabric of your choice for £40 per seat.

This Regency pair of dining chairs would look good anywhere, in either a traditional or contemporary home, for formal or everyday use, as either dining chairs, office / desk chairs, hall chair, or even occasional chairs.  They would certainly grace any home or office and are a great investment, as they are extremely functional.

History of the Regency Furniture Period:

Furniture and architectural designs during the Regency Era were heavily influenced by the expeditions and archaeological discoveries of the time. For much of the British population, this was their first exposure to the styles of other cultures. The Regency Era also coincided with Napoleon Bonaparte’s reign over France, a period known as the Napoleonic Era, which saw nearly constant military conflict across Europe.

Mahogany, which was readily available in Europe at the time, remained the main wood of choice for furniture making. It is a durable hardwood, which makes it ideal for high quality and long-lasting furniture, and its rich reddish-brown colour and straight grain makes it beautiful to look at.  However, with expeditions to new countries and continents came the discovery of new types of wood. Higher end furniture of the Regency Era included the use of exotic woods such as ebony, rosewood, and zebrawood, which were highly polished to accentuate the wood grain and create a visually striking surface

Ebonised wood also became popular during the nineteenth century. Ebonizing is a process used to darken wood to give it a similar appearance to ebony. The practice involved staining and polishing more inexpensive types of wood to create an exotic, sleek, jet-black exterior.

Unlike the designs of earlier periods such as the Rococo style, which relied heavily on exaggerated shapes and intricate wood carvings, the furniture makers of the Regency Era instead kept their overall designs simple. Symmetry, clean lines, and right angles came into fashion.  Furniture makers of the time still demonstrated their craftmanship and woodworking skills with the inclusion of signature details such as delicate sabre legs, Grecian-influenced scrollwork, X-form bases, and classic paw feet.

Wood carvings were still characteristic of furniture design during the Regency era, but they became far more subtle than those of earlier styles. While past furniture makers made ostentatious carved details the centre of attention on their work, wood carvings were rather used as an accent to the refined shapes of the Regency style.

Source: https://rauantiques.com/blogs/canvases-carats-and-curiosities/a-guide-to-regency-period-furniture

Source: https://www.lorfordsantiques.com/l-shaped/spotlight-on-regency-furniture/

Source: https://showrooms2220.com/blog/regency-era-furniture-20

Condition Report:

This is a fine quality antique English George IV Regency pair of dining chairs, constructed of solid mahogany, decorated with ebony inlay, circa 1825, which have been newly upholstered, in excellent original condition.  Nominal old use marks to the leading edges of the chair frames but nothing significant considering their age.  There are no breaks to the chair frames.  The ebony inlay is in excellent condition and all intact.  The chair frames have been cleaned and French polished by hand to a professional standard in our workshop.  The seats have been newly upholstered to a professional standard in pale grey structured linen upholstery.  The upholstery is therefore clean and free from wear and marks.  If you do not like the colour/style of the upholstery, we can recover the seats in a fabric of your choice for £40 per seat.  This pair of Regency mahogany dining chairs all solid in joint and ready to be used.

Dimensions:

External Height = 86.5cm / 34” / 2ft 10”
External Width = 50cm / 19¾” / 1ft 7¾”
External Depth = 50.5cm / 19⅞” / 1ft 7⅞”
Seat Height (Seat Centre) = 49cm / 19¼” / 1ft 7¼”
Seat Width = 50cm / 19¾” / 1ft 7¾”
Seat Depth = 42cm / 16½” / 1ft 4½”
Back Height = 39.5cm / 15½” / 1ft 3½”

Terms & Conditions:

Before you purchase this item, please ensure you have read and are in agreement with our Terms & Conditions of Sale. If you have any questions regarding our Terms & Conditions of Sale, please contact us to discuss them, before purchasing this item.

Ref. 111600