An oak box settle, Lancashire, late 17th century

Details

An oak box settle, Lancashire, late 17th century
the high rectangular back profusely carved with trailing berried vines and stiff leaf decoration, with an arched scroll cresting centred with a mask, the upper three horizontal panels flanked by figures and centred with initials C.S.T and dated 1677, the lower five upright panels with lozenge and foliate decoration, with downswept arms and plank seat with four panel front and channelled stiles -- 77in. (196cm.) wide, 63in. (160cm.) high (including cresting), 25in. (64cm.) deep
See Illustration

Provenance

S.W. Wolsey Esq.
The Moller Collection, Sotheby's London, 18 November 1993, lot 42.

Literature

R.W. Symonds, "The Regional Design and Ornament of Joined Furniture", The Connoisseur Vol CXXI (1948), p.93, fig. VIII.
R.W. Symonds, Furniture Making in Seventeeth and Eighteenth Century England, 1955, p.93, plates 116-117.

Lot Essay

The carved intials and date in the upper panel flanked by the male and female figures, suggests that this fine settle may commemorate the marriage of its original owners.

The trailing vine ornament and the winged lozenges within the panels are typical of North Country craftmanship and most likely Lancashire.

Another similar example, though dated 1756 is in the Collection at Temple Newsam House and illustrated in Victor Chinnery Oak Furniture, The British Tradition, Woodbridge 1979, p.478, fig.4.138. Other related examples are illustrated in Percy Macquoid A History of English Furniture..The Age of Oak, 1919, figs. 186 and 188.

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