A PAIR OF MID-VICTORIAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED OAK SIDE CHAIRS

DESIGNED BY HENRY WOODYER, MADE IN 1861 BY HARLAND AND FISHER

Details

A PAIR OF MID-VICTORIAN POLYCHROME-PAINTED OAK SIDE CHAIRS
Designed by Henry Woodyer, made in 1861 by Harland and Fisher
Each decorated overall with quatrefoils and painted with green, red and white patterns, the toprail with central panelled circle with a monogram of 'CMS' and flanked by turned finials above a padded arched splat flanked by square chamfered supports, above a padded seat covered in green leather, on square chamfered legs with pierced quatrefoil brackets, later blocks, refreshents to decoration
40 in. (101.5 cm.) high; 18 in. (46 cm.) wide; 18 in. (46 cm.) deep (2)

Provenance

Supplied in 1861 to Conway Mordaunt Shipley, Esq., Twyford Moors, Winchester, and by descent with the house until sold in Phillips house sale, 27 June 1989, lot 441.

Lot Essay

These medieval banqueting-hall chairs, of bright polychromed oak fretted with chamfers, trefoils and quatrefoils, display medallions on their pointed arch crestings bearing the gothic-lettered cypher of Conway Mordaunt Shipley, sailor and artist in watercolours. They were designed for Twyford Moors, Winchester, by the architect Henry Woodyer (d.1896) and supplied in 1861 by Messrs Harland and Fisher of Southampton Street. At this period the firm also made William Burges's celebrated 'Wines and Spirits' cabinet that was shown in the Mediaeval Court at the 1862 exhibition. Woodyer assisted William Butterfield in the 1840s and the 'sober grace' of his 'Old English' designs received praise in C.A. Eastlake's History of the Gothic Revival in England, London, 1872, pp. 328-332.

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