Chair - Wood, Leather

Pair of mahogany chairs with turned bobbin backs and leather-upholstered seats - England, c. 1890–1910.

Object: pair of support chairs
Origin: England, United Kingdom
Era: late 19th / early 20th century
Recommended dating: c. 1890–1910
Style: Late Victorian / Edwardian, with Georgian influence
Material: mahogany
Seats: upholstered and covered in dark green leather
Dimensions: 94 × 44 × 37 cm each

Pair of English mahogany chairs featuring a light and elegant frame, tall open backs and dark green leather upholstered seats.

Each backrest is delineated by two tall, slightly curved uprights that extend directly from the rear legs. The upper rail presents a softly wavy/serpentine profile, without applied ornament, ending laterally at the uprights.

The central field is filled by five very slender turned spindles, alternating cylindrical segments and small baluster elements. The spindles fit below into a carved, arch-shaped crossbar.

This use of decorative spindles is quite characteristic of late Victorian and Edwardian British chairs. A circa 1870 English Victorian set is described with backs on a row of turned spindles; later Edwardian chairs maintain the same language, albeit in a lighter form.

The seats are slightly trapezoidal and upholstered, covered in very dark green leather, currently patinated with craqueluré and pronounced wear.

The front legs show a discreet outward curve, while the rear legs extend the inclined design of the back uprights. The lower framework is reinforced by simple rectangular-section crossbars.

Leather: the leather shows considerable aging, though the wear adds character to the set. If reupholstering is needed, a similar dark green leather would be consistent with the current appearance.

Overall condition: signs of normal use are evident. There is a transverse crack/fracture in the upper area of one of the back uprights near the junction with the crest rail. It is a perfectly feasible and straightforward repair.