Chair - Wood, Leather

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

Object: pair of dining/side chairs
Origin: England, United Kingdom
Period: 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 with solid, light, graceful structure, tall open backs and seats upholstered in dark green leather.

Each back is defined by two tall, slightly arched uprights that extend directly from the rear legs. The top rail presents a softly undulating/ serpentine profile, with no applied ornament, tapering laterally into the uprights.

The central field is filled by five vertically turned spindles, very slender, alternating cylindrical segments and small baluster elements. The spindles fit into a lower traverse with a cut-out profile of successive semicircular arches.

This use of decorative spindles is quite characteristic of late Victorian and Edwardian British chairs. A Victorian English set from around 1870 is described, for example, with backs on a row of turned spindles; later Edwardian chairs retain the same language, though more lightly.

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

The front legs show a subtle forward curve, while the rear legs extend the slant of the back uprights. The lower structure is reinforced by simple rectangular-section crossbars.

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

Overall condition: normal signs of use are visible. There is a transversal crack/fracture in the upper area of one back upright, near the junction with the top rail. It is a repair that is perfectly feasible and straightforward.