{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O371815"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O371815/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KN0543/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2017KN0543/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2017KN0543","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KN0544","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KN0545","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KN0547","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O371815/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O371815","accessionNumber":"W.8-1968","objectType":"Windsor armchair","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This chair is one of a pair in the V&amp;A which were probably from a larger set made for a hall.  The raised cresting rail on the chair-back bears what appears to be the monogram of the original owner surmounted by an Earl's coronet, carved in low relief, but the original owner has not been identified, and it is possible that this carving is a later addition. It is a Windsor chair, characterised by its construction, with a single solid piece of wood forming the seat, with legs and arm-supports dowelled into it. The seat is carved in a saddle-shape for comfort, in common with many other Windsor chairs. Their name probably derives from the town of Windsor in Berkshire, which is situated on the river Thames and was ideally located as a distribution point for chairs made in the Thames Valley region, where many chairs of this type were made.  \r\n\r\nOn loan to Mompesson House.","physicalDescription":"One of a pair of armchairs with a low back, of a type known as a 'smoker's bow', with a solid shaped seat in the manner of Windsor chairs, a curved back-rail and arms supported by turned banisters in the form of fluted Doric columns, and four cabriole legs. On the backrail is a monogram surmounted by an earls coronet and surrounded by acanthus leaf decoration, carved in low relief. The front legs are carbed on the knee with incised bandwork and acanthus leaves, and terminate in pad feet. The front arm supports are carved with interlaced strapwork and the twelve banisters have plinths and entablatures carved with paterae.  ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"C168"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"mahogany","id":"AAT12221"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"},{"text":"turning","id":"AAT53158"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"The chairs are made of mahogany. ","categories":[{"text":"Furniture","id":"THES48948"},{"text":"Woodwork","id":"THES48877"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"FWK","id":"THES48597"},"images":["2017KN0543","2017KN0544","2017KN0545","2017KN0547"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"NTMH","id":"THES50015"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Windsor armchair","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1740 - 1760","earliest":"1740-01-01","latest":"1760-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The carving in the centre of the top rail is probably an addition of the late 19th or early 20th century. "}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"W.9-1968","id":"O371814"},"association":"Pair"}],"creditLine":"Given by Brigadier W. E. Clark CMG, DSO through the Art Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"78","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"69.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"61","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given with its pair (W.9-1968) by Brigadier W.E. Clark, CMG, DSO, through the Art Collections Fund (see Nominal File MA/1/C1585/3). At the time of acquisition it was questioned whether the carving had been added at a later date, in the late  19th or early 20th centuries, and suggested that these started life as very plain chairs. The file also contains a note saying that an image of four chairs of this pattern is in <i>The Collector</i> for May 1930, in an advertisement of a sale from the Hurcombe Gallery, Piccadilly Auction. It is possible that this is an imperfect reference to the 1st volume of <i>The Antique Collector</i>, which started in 1930, but it has not been possible to check this. \n\nThe chairs are probably from a larger set made for a hall.  On loan to Mompesson House, Salisbury (National Trust) since 1977.","historicalContext":"This chair and its pair (W.9-1968) was probably designed for use in a library or hall.","briefDescription":"A low-back Windsor armchair, one of a pair, in walnut, the spindles of the back carved as classical columns, the centre of the back carved with an earl's coronet and a monogram that may be read as HS","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"The Windsor Chair: An illustrated history of a classic English chair","id":"AUTH345879"},"details":"","free":"Illustrated p.60\r\n'Mahogany baluster back 'smoker's bow' type library chair c. 1780. (Victoria & Albert Museum). Note the crisp carving on the back, armstays and the knees, and use of four cabriole legs with a stretcher.'"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Windsor Chair Exhibition at West Wycombe Park, catalogue of an exhibition held in May 2012, no. 4.  The text was by Michael Harding-Hill and Robert Parrott."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Michael Harding-Hill, <i>Windsor Chairs. An Illustrated Celebration</i> (Woodbridge, Antique Collectors' Club, 2003), p. 23. This was published to coincide with the exhibition at West Wycombe. "}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.8-1968"],"accessionNumberNum":"8","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1968,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-07-13","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}