Research:
Of laburnam, tulipwood, macassar ebony, satinwood, and mahogany with yew wood veneer. The rectangular back with open latticework cresting above two rows of turned columnar slats. The uprights with geometric blind fretwork surmounted by flame finials issuing conforming arms terminating in scrolled-handholds supported by twist turned posts above an upholstered drop-in seat. The whole raised on rectangular rear legs and faux bamboo cluster column front legs, joined by box stretchers, and raised on casters.
The form of the present chairs, with spindle back and wide, low seat, emanated from the North Country of England circa 1740, and is sometimes called a Westmorland or Lancashire chair, reflecting its origin.
However, they also came to be known as ‘drunkards’ chairs. The original purpose of such exceptionally wide or low-seated examples was general comfort, as they could accommodate the long coats of gentlemen and wide skirts of ladies. But “their ample proportions [would also] permit their occupant to more comfortably sleep off a debauch, without the disturbing necessity of movement to bed or couch.” The moniker was likely “coined in the Victorian period, when the habits of the Georgian age were habitually denigrated.”
Although this form of chair was typically executed in a more plain and provincial manner – a traditional example may be seen in the hall corridor of Wallington Hall circa 1918 (figure 1) – the present chairs are of a highly elevated, Eastern-inspired design that includes fretwork, turned and carved elements, and multi-colored specimen woods and veneers. One possibility for the authorship of such a sophisticated interpretation is the cabinetmaking partnership of Wright and Elwick (fl. 1745–1771), the “pre-eminent firm of cabinet-makers and upholsterers in Yorkshire during the second half of the eighteenth century. Richard Wright and Edward Elwick were both subscribers to the Chippendale’s Director, and their work was inspired by his designs. Chippendale even alludes to ‘the Ingenious Mr Elwick’ in a letter to Sir Rowland Winn in 1767.
Full research report available on request.