SRI LANKA, SECOND QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

In his account of Ceylon of 1850, H. C. Sirr noted 'the most exquisitely carved ebony furniture conceivable'. This form of deep caned armchair was possibly inspired by the designs of Thomas King's Modern Style of Cabinet Work Exemplified, of 1829. The earliest recorded chair which may refer to one of this form is from a document of 1833 relating to the Governor of Ceylon (PRO CO 54/127, ff. 114-117) when they were described as '1 Ebony Easy Chair'. A similar chair is illustrated in A. Jaffer, Furniture from British India and Ceylon, London, 2001, p. 378, no. 186.