A rare Bermuda 'Chippendale' hall chair, circa 1780, with…
click the photo to enlarge
A rare Bermuda 'Chippendale' hall chair, circa 1780, with pierced flat back splat and drop in seat on cabriole front legs with ball and claw feet, of pegged and joint construction, 54 cm wide, 57 cm deep, 104 cm high

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Back Splat - The vertical or horizontal piece that joins the back to the seat, or between the two sides of the chair. The back splat stabilises and adds additional strength to the back.
  • Pierced Decoration - Ornamental woodwork with part of the background cut through and removed to produce an open-work pattern.
  • Splat - The central back support between the top rail and the seat in chairs and couches. They may take a variety of forms, and run either horizontally or vertically.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • Drop in Seat - Mostly used on Regency upright chairs, a drop in (or "drop on") seat is an unsprung removable seat where the upholstery is attached to a wooden frame, which is held in place by the sides of the chair, and usually a wooden peg at the front of the chair. An inset upholstered seat is of the same construction, but it sits within a frame whose perimeter includes four sides of the chair.

    Because the upholstery frame was not very deep, the seats were relatively uncomfortable. In the mid 19th century coiled upholstery springs came into use and frame of the chair was used as the upholstery frame, making for a much more comfortable and responsive seat.

    This type of seat was known as an over-upholstered or over-stuffed seat.
  • Claw Feet - Carved or cast in the shape of a lion's claw or the talons of other more fabulous beasts. They may be found on chair and table legs, supporting platform bases, and cabinets in the Classical Revival manner. Claw feet are not uncommon on Australian furniture made throughout the 1850s and 1860s, though, as with all forms of carving, the deeper and richer the claws are carved, the earlier the piece is likely to be.
  • Ball and Claw Feet - Are in the shape of a rounded ball, attached to the underside of the carcase by a wooden shank. Introduced during the late 17th century and found on furniture in the William and Mary and Queen Anne style, are commonly found on cabriole legs in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, and furniture imitating the mid-18th century Rococo style. The leg terminates in a ball held by a carved lion's or bird's claw.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A rare Dutch ivory inlaid walnut chair, circa 1740, the central back splat inlaid with an ivory portrait of Willem III, the seat rail inlaid with butterflies and sinuous vines, 99 cm high, 54 cm wide, 48 cm deep

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

An occasional high back chair, probably Portuguese, 19th century, finely carved and pierced back with needle point tapestry upholstered seat

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A fine set of Chippendale revival mahogany chairs, late 19th century, each with leafy carved decorations to curvaceous crests, with pierced, waisted and knot form splats, square drop in seats with purple velvet covers and raised on cabriole legs with profu

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A set of 8 mahogany Waring & Gillows Ltd, Chippendale style, dining chairs, early 20th century, includes one carver, the chairs with carved ball and claw feet, fretwork, backs and upholstered seats, Inner seat rails impressed stamp Waring & Gillows, Ltd. H

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.