A MID-VICTORIAN MAHOGANY INVALID'S WHEEL CHAIR

WITH THE LABEL OF JOHN WARD LTD.

Details

A MID-VICTORIAN MAHOGANY INVALID'S WHEEL CHAIR
With the label of John Ward Ltd.
With reclining back, hinged arms and drop-in seat, above a ratcheted foot-rest, covered in close-nailed maroon leather, on ring-turned front legs and large brass castors, the seat stamped '12303' and the reverse with label 'JOHN WARD LTD 246/7 TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD LONDON.W.' and with a crown above 'BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT'
51 in. (130 cm.) long, with foot rest extended; 44 in. (112 cm.) high; 29 in .(73.5 cm.) wide

Lot Essay

The label appears to be later in style than the chair and is possibly a dealer's rather than a manufacturer's label.
John Ward went into partnership with Thomas Griffin, invalid chair-maker, 6 Leicester Square in about 1845. By 1851 Griffin had retired and Ward continued trading until 1903. Ward's chairs are often inscribed with his name and address on the hub cap (C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 54 and 416, fig. 935.

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