Country Chippendale Armchair in Elm - A Chippendale Mahogany Ladder-Back Chair -  Hepplewhite Arm and Single Chair - Hepplewhite Shield-Back chair

Country Chippendale armchair in elm c. 1770. A simple and appeallingly bold chair although this example has been worn or slightly cut down in the leg. The seat is fully upholstered, which may be a conversion due to damage to the front rail. The tenon joints are pegged.
Another Country Chippendale armchair of more ornate splat design, with drop-in seat. The Gothic influence is evident in the arching within the splat and the top rail is also arched in a slightly later style. Usually to be
found in mahogany or country wood such as elm or birch stained mahogany colour.
Many such chairs, having been used hard for many years, have had stretchers replaced or cut legs replaced. Watch also for broken or replaced splats and top rails; the latter particularly at the tenon joint with the
upright.
A Chippendale mahogany ladder-back chair of c. 1765. The ladder-back designs tended to be of later Chippendale period. In this case the back rails are elegantly designed and pierced to add lightness to the overall effect. Note the scratch moulding down the front leg corners also to add lightness and the chamfered backs of the front legs.
A Chippendale ladder-back chair with upholstered seat, slightly shaped across the front rail. The pierced rails of the ladder back help to lighten the chair.
Country Chippendale chair in mahogany c. 1760. Fully upholstered seat covered in tapestry pattern fabric. A good example of a better quality country chair.
Mahogany Chippendale chair of pleasing simplicity and proportion. The splat is elegantly curved and the back, though square in design, is curved and softened by the tapering uprights.
Hepplewhite chairs of hooped back design. The tapering legs are reeded or moulded and the back repeats this feature. Note that the arm chair is not a match with the single chairs. The back splat designs are typical of this type, finely executed and decorated with carving down the centre.
An oak country chair of c. 1760 with solid seat. The back splat still retains an echo of the Queen Anne period but the uprights and top rail join in an outward turn more akin the mid-18th century. Similar chairs in solid walnut with even earlier styles in the back pre-date these simple robust pieces.
Mahogany Country Chippendale chair of heavier proportion c. 1780. The casters under the legs have been added later, possibly to compensate for wear caused by stone floors. There is considerable workmanship in the carving of the back but the rather flattened top rail lacks the elegance of London or even provincial work.
A Hepplewhite design chair of c. 1790 with hooped back. The centre splat decorated with the circular medal-like motif with leaf decoration radiating out from a centre. A fairly typical design which is associated with Hepplewhite but which more probably emanated from Robert Adam. The legs are still of the square section straight type of Chippendale period and not as light or elegant as the normal Hepplewhite, type which were tapered. The seat is bowed. The chair is made of mahogany.
A mahogany Chippendale chair with fully upholstered seat. The back splat design is one which seems to have been particularly popular with country and later makers of this design of chair.
A ‘Chipplewhite’ design mahogany chair of c. 1780. Note that the influence of French designs has now cut the bold sweep of the arms to a more attenuated length and of less broad a scope.
Fine quality Hepplewhite arm and single chair. Note the leaf carving on the back and round the top rail to finish half way down the uprights. The influence of Robert Adam is evident in these.
A mahogany Hepplewhite chair which suggests a development from a Chippendale design rather than a break from it. The structure is very similar; the front legs are not tapered on the inside edge and the camel-back form of top back rail tempers the outward sweep of the uprights.
This is a simple version of this design. A more decorated version could well double these prices.
Hepplewhite shield-back chair c. 1790. The carving of the back is of particularly fine quality. The tapering legs are reeded and the decoration of brass studs adds further ornamentation. Normally executed in mahogany.
Price Range: considered by many to be a high point in English design, original shield back Hepplewhite chairs fetch very high prices.