Webberley Antiques

Description

A very beautiful George III French Hepplewhite armchair of elegant lines and superb symmetry.

George Hepplewhite was born in 1746 and he apprenticed to Robert Gillow. He opened his London shop in around 1778 and is known for his delicate and refined furniture. After his death in 1886 his wife published his designs in 'The Cabinet-Maker and Upholster's Guide' which featured around 300 of light neoclassically styled curvaceous furniture. His designs became hugely popular around the World in subsequent years. His French chairs featured overstuffed seats, backs and armrests designed for comfort. Very little is known about George Hepplewhite's life, he may certainly have known Thomas Chippendale as their work overlapped in date when he was in London. As with many makers of the period, Hepplewhite did not stamp his furniture and to date no piece has been unequivocally attributed to him or his workshops.

This example, in Mahogany, is elegant simplicity with slender cabriole legs terminating in a French scrolled foot, the long legs accentuated by carved reeded decoration, the arms similarly fluidly carved and reeded with a simple scroll to the junction with the shaped support. The curved overstuffed and waisted back proportional with the wide serpentine seat.

The chair has been newly upholstered in a very fine pure silk heavyweight upholstery fabric of bronze ground with powdery silver blue 18th century pattern.

Extremely comfortable, no breaks, repairs or damage and no later elements to the show frame.

Seen in one picture here with an early 19th Century mahogany French serpentine stool, of complimentary form. The chair and stool were purchased privately and have been together for many years and so I have upholstered both in the same silk. The stool is available separately.

A good French Hepplewhite 18th Century chair in very fine and usable condition.


Dimensions are:

27 inches wide, 26 inches deep (max) and 36 inches high.

Floor to seat is 17.5 inches.

For metric please multiply by 2.5
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