Chairs — Late Victorian Reproductions
CHAIRS — late Victorian reproductions of 17th and 18th century designs
The constant Victorian search for new designs ironically led to a revival of interest in eighteenth century designs. Contrary to popular myth, top quality Victorian craftsmen were just as good as their predecessors but, while they accurately reproduced the details of decoration correctly, they often lost the feeling of the original; for example, the Victorians seemed to dislike the large square seats and low broad backs of the Chippendale period, so their renditions are often lighter and more delicate. Similarly, the termination of the back legs, which were normally shaped in good quality designs prior to fashionable Chippendale, are often missing. More telling of course is the lack of age on the unpolished areas of the seat rails and the use of square corner supports rather than the open variety originally used (though these are often replaced, the old rebate marks should still be there). On top quality reproductions the shoulder pieces (supporting the tops of the legs to the frames) are often carefully shaped with a rounded tool, whereas the originals were quickly cleaned off with an ordinary chisel and here particularly age, in the form of dark patination of varying shades rather than stain, should be apparent.
As with Victorian carving originality meant the difference between high value or near worthlessness. Indiscriminating foreign demand has changed this in the last few years to the point where ‘half age’ pieces can be surprisingly valuable. A good long set of Victorian reproductions have increased in value to the point where they are almost worth as much each as a single original example.
A satinwood Hepplewhite-style shield back chair, very much in keeping with the original spirit.
In sets, each A ‘Queen Anne’ chair in mahogany which, apart from the mahogany, gives away its Victorian origin by the seat rail (too shallow) and the cabriole legs (too thin behind the knee and a bit weak in the ankle).
In sets, each Another mahogany ‘Queen Anne’ chair in which the lower half is quite successful but the treatment of the back is too clumsy by far — what is more the back is too high; this style of chair has a lower back if genuine — see the section on Chairs —cabriole leg.
Victorian ‘Chippendale’ chair of quite good quality as far as the back goes, but with golf-club-like feet on the legs, which are too thin and bandy.
In sets, each $150 — 250
Victorian oak Charles II-style chair of quite faithful design —the colour and patination of the wood would be the give away here.
An upholstered version of a Queen Anne shepherd’s crook armchair in walnut. Much too cosy and Victorian and on closer examination no age to the wood.
Late 19th century
Quite a good Victorian `Chippendale’ chair, but, again, the seat rail and the legs are too thin for the real thing.
Reproduction Chinese lacquer and walnut George I chair which has a lot thrown in by way of scrolls and an extraordinary central stretcher curving from the back stretcher up under the seat to the back of the front seat rail. The legs are bandy, and nearer to the Victorian baloon back than anything from the eighteenth century. 1920s
The Victorians’ love of decoration enjoyed to the full in this alleged Chippendale design. Rams’ heads for the cabriole knees and naturally the same animals’ feet. The riband back and the extremities of the top rail, the
front serpentine seat rail, all carrying their full quota of carving. Why, one wonders, were the arms and their supports so neglected The small size of seat is an easy give away to the later date. In terms of their value a
few years ago the price is staggering.
Tags: cabriole legs, chair, CHAIRS, Charles II-style, Chippendale, chippendale period, eighteenth century, Hepplewhite-style, leg, mahogany, quality reproductions, Queen Anne, satinwood, Upholstered, victorian reproductions, Victorians