Antique English Queen Anne Chairs
Antique English CHAIRS, QUEEN ANNE
About 1700-1730
A highly distinctive style, actually extending well beyond Queen Anne’s reign.
Backs of antique queen Anne chairs have a curving outline, with elongated S-scrolls flowing into dipped top rail. Broad vase-shaped splats, after about 1710 slotting into a’shoe’ (p. 59). Cabriole legs and drop-in seats. All these are classic features.
Early, taller, ‘beaded back’ versions were curved in section to fit the sitter’s back. Seat rails were shallow, cabriole legs slender and ending in hoof or pad feet. They had simple turned stretchers with one additional stretcher at the back.
Later versions had lower backs, sometimes broader and occasionally rounder seats, with deeper, often shaped, rails, no stretchers and bolder, squatter cabrioles, sometimes ending in claw-and-ball feet. Strengthening ‘ears’ or ’shoulder pieces’ were added either side of the knee. Legs could be decorated with fine C-scrolls and/or scallop shells carved on the knee. The back uprights were flat-fronted, a feature which subsequently became standard on chairs of most types.
Armchairs had their arms set back several inches from the front rail they were no longer continuous with the front legs. Some had distinctive ’shepherd’s crook’ arms.
A few chairs had upholstered seats and backs, with no gap between them. These could be tall, with straight sides and top, or lower and ’spoon- backed’.
Early-18thC walnutchair with cabriole legs, rounded seat and stretchers.
Queen Anne armchair with distinctive shepherd’s crook arms..
Spindly Victorian reproductions.
Later Queen Anne chair with square seat and without stretchers.
Walnut. Very occasionally mahogany around d 1730. From this date onwards beech was used for the frames of upholstered seats. Because it is very susceptible to woodworm, these have often been replaced. Frequent re-upholstery may also hasten their demise.
During this period methods evolved which set the standards for virtually all chairs made until the present day. (For details, see CHIPPENDALE, P. 56).
One feature relating specifically to chairs of this period was the veneering of flat surfaces: the splat, the front faces of the uprights, and the facings of the seat rails.
Restrained carving on knees, popularly a scallop shell (on the best pieces ‘hipped’ into the seat rail), but could be foliage, cartouches, or husks. Sometimes a single ornament present in centre of front seat rail. Limited decoration
mostly small scrolls began to appear on the back towards 1730.
Some very grand pieces were decorated with silver or gilt gesso (museum pieces today). A few had marquetry decoration on veneered surfaces.
Top quality later versions with all the best features have the highest values. Pairs may be about three times the value of a single; a set would be exceptional. Armchairs too are rare, and very expensive.
Victorian (and later) craftsmen loved to reproduce Queen Anne chairs, but often in mahogany generally an instant giveaway and too thin in the legs. The backs were often too high and the seat rails too shallow. They tend to look rather mean, reflecting the economic use of timber. Construction of the seat frame (p. 68) should indicate its origin.
Tags: Antique, armchairs, cabriole legs, CHAIRS, Chippendale, English, legs, mahogany, P., Queen Anne, Queen Anne Chairs, VALUES, victorian reproductions, walnut, walnutchair