Research:
Of solid mahogany. Each fretted and shaped backrest is composed of three fluted columns headed by blind fret quatrefoils and flanked by shaped sides, all resting on a socle form lower part. The solid mahogany seat centered by a sunken circular ‘dish’ and surrounded by a d-molded edge. The x-form fretted front support is centered by a molded roundel. The plain shaped rear support connects to the front by means of a single shaped stretcher.
These highly unusual chairs were almost certainly supplied to the Tipping family of Ardwick in Manchester and then by descent to William Whitacre Tipping (died in 1889), who purchased Bold Hall, near St Helens in Lancashire, in 1861.
Constructed of high quality solid mahogany, the present pieces combine features of the sgabello-form chair, with x-framed curule-type legs. Another unusual aspect of the present chairs is the fretted detail in the backrest as well as in the legs.
Full research report available on request.