Nancy Lancaster Armchair

Nancy Lancaster ArmchairAn extremely unusual early 19th century caned bergere armchair, monochrome black japanned and decorated in the Greek Revival taste with Greek key and scrolling volute motifs, Possibly English or Irish, circa 1800. Why we like it This amazingly quirky and superbly decorative chair, proudly displaying its age, cought our eye immediately when we saw it, and that would have been more than enough to buy it. Can you imagine how thrilled we were to learn

raised on boldly scrolled foliage carved front legs and outswept back supports

see Christie’s

a pair of armchairs from this suite subsequently sold Christie’s

distinguished by the superb quality of construction

terminating in subtle feet

attributed to Gillows

the whole raised on four chamfered square-cut tapering legs

A related item sold at Bonhams

fit to ebmellish the most sophisticated of rooms

also bearing the distinctive chamfering under their drawer rails

formerly in the possession of The Drapers Company in London

terminating in scrolls