Anglo-Indian harlequin set of six rosewood dining chairs. 19th…

Anglo-Indian harlequin set of six rosewood dining chairs. 19th…
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Anglo-Indian harlequin set of six rosewood dining chairs. 19th century.

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  • Harlequin Set - A harlequin set is a collection of items that are similar in style or design but feature different variations in colour, construction or pattern. The term "harlequin" comes from the traditional costume worn by a character in Italian commedia dell'arte, which is made up of different coloured patches.

    For example with furniture, a harlequin set may refer to a group of chairs, typically dining chairs, where a number of the chairs are identical in design but one or more of the chairs may have a difference in the design of the leg or back. Harlequin sets can be found in silver flatware, porcelain dinner settings and glassware settings.
  • Rosewood - A dense timber that varies in shade to very light brown to almost black. When rosewood is cut and sanded the colour of the timber will turn black, and after polishing and exposure to daylight, the surface will gradually lighten over time to light brown with black streaks.

    The name comes from the odour emanating from the timber when it is planed, sanded or cut.

    Rosewood was very popular for use in Victorian furniture in the second half of the 19th century, and at that time most of the rosewood was imported from Brazil. However it also grows in India and Indonesia.

    It is used in the sold for chairs and table legs, but for carcase furniture such as side cabinets and bookcases, and for table tops it is always used as a veneer.
  • Harlequin Set - A "harlequin set" or "matched set" of chairs, is a set in which the chairs are similar, but not identical in design and construction, as in a true set. At a time when complete sets of chairs are increasingly difficult to find, dealers often have to rely on assembling a matched set from various sources. The world 'Harlequin' derives from the Italian comedy figure who traditionally wears a diamond-patterned costume. It is sometimes used to describe a pattern of inlay in this design.

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