Interiors & Decorations

Jewellery & Precious Stones

Watches, Pens & Lighters

Fashion

Coins & Stamps

Comics & Animation

Classic Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia

Wine, Whisky & Spirits

Asian & Tribal Art

Trading Cards

Toys & Models

Archaeology & Natural History

Sports

Music, Movies & Cameras

Books & Historical Memorabilia

The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Eduardo Laia Martins

Antique Colonial Children’s Chair – Hand-Carved “Lion Arm” Design – British Raj Period (c. 1880–1920)

Origin: India / Sri Lanka
Material: Solid hardwood (likely teak or acacia)
Dimensions: H 58 × W 36 × D 33 cm (seat height 27 cm)

⸻

Description

Rare and authentic colonial children’s chair from the British Raj era (ca. 1880–1920), exquisitely hand-carved from solid hardwood and richly ornamented with lion-shaped armrests, curved front legs, and a decorative spindle backrest.

This piece is a fine example of Anglo-Indian craftsmanship, blending European Empire Revival influences with local South Asian woodcarving traditions.
Chairs of this quality were custom-made for children of colonial officials, landowners, or affluent families, serving both as functional furniture and as a symbol of status and education.

The detailing of the lions — stylized yet expressive — shows regional artistic individuality rather than factory precision, indicating a unique, handcrafted workshop piece.

The seat panel was replaced mid-20th century (marked “Bengal Plywood & Allied Products Ltd.”), which confirms a historic repair rather than modern intervention.
The structure remains solid and stable, with a warm, original patina that reflects over a century of careful use and preservation.

⸻

Condition
•	Good antique condition for its age (100–150 years old).
•	Structurally stable and solid.
•	Several small cracks and surface wear consistent with age and use.
•	Seat panel replaced ca. 1950–1970 (Bengal Plywood mark visible).
•	Original carvings, legs, and backrest intact.
•	Beautiful aged wood tone and tactile surface.

This level of wear is entirely natural for a handcrafted chair of this age and adds to its authenticity and charm.

⸻

Provenance

Private Norwegian collection — found on a rural property near Stavanger, after that it had remained in the same family for over 30 years and used regular.
According to the previous owner, the chair was a barn find, originally kept in storage for generations before rediscovery.
Family tradition holds that both children and grandchildren used it as a seat, attesting to its functional strength and sentimental history.

⸻

Attribution & Cultural Context

Such chairs were traditionally made in colonial India or Sri Lanka for wealthy households under British influence.
Their hybrid style — combining European neoclassical proportions with animal symbolism typical of Indian art — is today highly sought after by collectors of colonial and ethnographic furniture.

Comparable examples can be found in museum and private collections of British Raj decorative arts, and are prized for their cross-cultural design and craftsmanship.

⸻

Shipping

Worldwide insured shipping with tracking available.
Local pickup (Norway) possible by arrangement.

Custom fees and/or other fees that apply from importing this item belongs to the buyer.



































































angloindianfurniture,britishrajchair,colonialchildrenschair,lioncarvings,handcarvedantique,empirerevival,neoclassicalfurniture,indianwoodcarving,rareantiquechair,antiquefurniture,collectorspiece,decorativeantique,orientalfurniture,teakchair,heritagefurniture,1900sdesign,colonialart,woodcarving,heritageobject,antiquemodern,handcraftedchair,vintagefurniture,childrensantiquechair,interiorart,colonialinterior,raredecorativechair,exclusiveselection,britishindia,angloindianart,colonialwoodwork,ethnicart,antiquecollectible,finefurniture,craftsmanship,antiquehandcarvedchair,teakantique,rajera,heritageart,lionmotifcarving,colonialheritageobject,antiquecollection,rarechildchair,colonialdecor,antiquemøbel,kolonialstol,løveskåretstol,antikbarnestol,håndskåretmøbel,antikmøbel,antikviteter,indiskkunst,kolonialkunst,antikinteriør,antikdekorasjon,antikstol,antikdesign,barokkstil,antikhåndverk,antikinnredning,antikraritet,vintageinteriør,antikbarnekrakk,antiktrearbeid,antikramme,antikobjekt,antikskatt,stolantik,kolonialantikvitet,antikbarneinnredning,kolonialtinteriør,antikantikvitet,antikraritet,antikbutikk,antikhandel,artcoloniale,chaiseancienne,chaiseenfant,meublecolonial,boisculpté,chaiseangloindienne,artdecoratif,meubleancien,siègeenfant,meublesanciens,styleempire,meubleantique,artethnique,meubledecollection,boisantique,artcolonial,sculpturebois,chaiseancienne,antiquités,chaiseenbois,antikmöbel,kolonialmöbel,kinderstuhl,löwenschnitzerei,handgeschnitzterstuhl,antikerstuhl,angloindisch,holzmöbel,antikstühle,britishrajmöbel,kolonialstil,antikmöbelstück,teakmöbel,antikdesignmöbel,kunsthandwerk,antikholzstuhl,biedermeierstil,antikmöbelkunst,antikeinrichtung,kolonialkunstwerk,antikmöbelsammlung,mobiliantico,sediaantica,sediabambini,mobiliocoloniale,artigianatoindiano,sediaintagliata,legnoantico,arredamentostorico,stileimperiale,arredamentocoloniale,mobilid’epoca,artigianato,arteantica,antichità,decorazionecoloniale,mueblesantiguos,sillacolonial,sillainfantil,maderatallada,muebleantiguo,sillaindia,sillaclasica,sillabritishraj,artecolonial,antiguedades,mueblescoloniales,decoracionantigua,mueblesinfantiles,arteantiguo,sillacincuenta,antiguamadera,artesanadoantiguo,mueblesinteriores,meublesanciens,宗教家具,殖民時代家具,手工雕刻椅,古董椅,英属印度艺术,木雕家具,古董家具,儿童古董椅,殖民艺术品,英印殖民风格,狮子雕刻,古典艺术品,装饰艺术,殖民时代风格,欧洲古董椅,手工艺术品,复古艺术,北欧收藏,家具艺术,中古椅,アンティーク家具,コロニアルチェア,英国植民地様式,ライオン彫刻,アンティーク子供椅子,手彫り木工,アンティーク装飾,英国ラージ時代,ヴィンテージ家具,彫刻椅子,クラシックインテリア,植民地家具,アンティーク工芸,古代家具,芸術品


Armchair

Armchair - Acasia

Antiques & Classic Furniture

Reserve price

No reserve price

Buy now

Closing date

29 March

Wednesday

Saturday

Friday

Thursday

30 March

Tuesday

tomorrow

today

Budget

From

Location

The Netherlands

Italy

Belgium

France

Germany

Spain

Poland

Portugal

Latvia

Hungary

Romania

Sweden

United Kingdom

Switzerland

Austria

Czech Republic

Greece

Israel

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Türkiye

Bulgaria

Denmark

Estonia

Croatia

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Brand

WMF / Geislingen

Val Saint Lambert

Max le Verrier

Baccarat

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Christofle

Murano

Curt Schlevogt

Daum Frères

Moser & Söhne

Orivit

Plateelbakkerij Zuid-Holland

Capodimonte

Zenith

Rosenthal

Thonet

Boch Frères

Bernard Bloch

Legras & Cie.

GERO

Osiris Metallwarenfabrik

Doyen

Manifattura Italiana

Leerdam

Object

Sculpture

Religious objects

Vase

Clock

Mantel clock

Reliquary

Frame

Wall clock

Icon

Chandelier

Chair

Candleholder

Decorative ornament

Table

Side table

Mirror

Table/desk clock

Candlestick

Nightstand

Jewellery box

Decanter

Picture frame

Statue

Ring

Country of origin

Netherlands

Europe

Russia

Czechia

Unknown

United States

Japan

Peru

Asia

China

Material

Wood

Brass

Bronze

Glass

Metal

Silver

Marble

Silverplated

Gilt bronze

Crystal

Textile

Walnut

Copper

Mahogany

Iron

Porcelain

Ceramic

Earthenware

Patinated bronze

Steel

Gilt brass

Paper

Spelter

Gender

Women

Unisex

Condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good condition

Very good condition - slightly used with small signs of wear

As new - unused

Excellent condition

Fair condition

Good - visible signs of wear

Good

Poor - heavily used with major cracks, damages or major parts missing

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Very good

Fair - major signs of wear

Fair

As new

Fine

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Very poor - showing significant decay, loss of original texture or solidity of the material

Non-functioning/ For restoration

A (excellent - mint condition)

Needs restoration

Very good - minor signs of wear

Period

1850-1900

1920-1930

1900-1910

1930-1940

1910-1920

1950-1960

1800-1850

1940-1950

1960-1970

1750-1800

1970-1980

1700-1750

1980-1990

1900-1949

1990-2000

2020+

1650-1700

19th century

18th century

2000-2010

Antiques & Classic Furniture

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

Armchair - Acasia

Popular in Antiques & Classic Furniture

2480 objects

Related collections