CHAIRS: READING, WRITING, DESK AND LIBRARY
About 1700-1900
Early-18thC ‘horseman’s’ or ”cockfighting’ chair.
Various gentlemen’s reading and writing chairs evolved during the 18thC for use in libraries and studies and, in the 19thC, in clubs.
‘Cockfighting’, ‘horseman’s’ and later, ‘conversation’ chairs, about 1700-1800: Fully upholstered pear-shaped seat, padded back with narrow base rising into flat curved section. cabriole legs, at first with substantial stretchers. The sitter sat astride the chair and leant forward on the crest rail. Sometimes the back is fitted with a book-rest and/or candle-stands or holders. Mid-century onwards more often wooden splat with flattened wooden crest rail, sometimes dished for candlesticks.
Regency ‘bergere’ armchairs, Regency bergere armchair with book-rest and candle-stands.
Above, a late Regency/William IV reading chair anticipating the popular Victorian Eaton Hall type.
1800-1830: Wooden frame and back, sides and seat filled with cane work. Loose leather back and seat cushions and fixed padded armrests. Often adjustable bookrest or candleholders fixed to arm(s). Straight, turned front legs continuous with column arm supports. Back legs raked. Rectangular, flat-topped back can be shaped for comfort. All legs were mounted on castors.
`Eaton Hall’ chairs (particularly popular for clubs), about 1830-1900: A development of earlier corner chairs (see p. 73) and ‘horseman’s’ chairs (above), but for conventional use. Circular seats with semi-circular flat
wooden or deeply padded crest rail following same line, joined by broad pierced splat or, more commonly, ten turned spindles. Turned front and raked back legs on castors. Crest rail can have raised centre. In general, the heavier and more bulbous the turnings, the later the chair was made.
Walnut, mahogany; occasionally oak in the 19thC. Nearly always leather upholstery.
Standard methods employed. Bookrests adjustable on ratchet system.
Generally none, other than turnings on legs, spindles and arm supports.
Polish. French polish in 19thC. Ebonised finish occasionally from about 1870-1890.
VALUES
The rarity of horseman’s chairs and elegance of bergeres usually push their prices into four figures. Pairs of the latter are especially sought after and often more than the normal three times the price of a single.
Victorian desk and club chairs vary according to quality, but most are somewhere in the low hundreds.
New leather upholstery on all types should be valued at cost.