19th Century Irish hedge armchair

19th Century Irish hedge armchair

Code: 10398

Dimensions:

W: 64cm (25.2")H: 86cm (33.9")D: 45cm (17.7")

£1,850.00 Approx $2332.91, €2158.69, £1850
Qty 

For sale is a beautifully decorative Irish hedge armchair in an unusual and distinctive design from the mid 19th Century, circa 1860.

- The armchair has a distinctive design with elegant swept and curved arms and an angled panel plank seat in a throne like manner.  The country hedge armchair design has elements that are reminiscent of other Irish/Scottish chair design features/types.
- The chair has curved encompassing arms and triangular-esque seat like Sligo chairs, and also the triple stretcher and seat rail design are similar to a rare Irish Súgán (straw/rope) armchair from County Kerry*.  The chair is Elm and Ash in construction.   
- The seat may have been replaced with hard panels at some stage in its life and could even have been Súgán originally similar to the one shown from County Kerry* .
- The chair also reminds us in its throne like upright nature of the grand  Scottish chairs which came to be called 'caqueteuse' chairs, from the French word for a gossip which looks appropriate for this decorative armchair too in a fireside location. 
- The front and rear legs are square and the back uprights supporting a cross-slatted back with two slats and a top rail pegged into place with wooden dowel. 
- The back is slightly angled back for comfort. The chair has had some historic woodworm but is in good antique condition for 150+ years of age.
- All of the stretchers and seat rails indicate spoke-shaved construction and all of these cylindrical stretchers and seat rails pierce right through the uprights (as highlighted in the images) and are wedged visibly in an attractive manner.
- If this has been a Súgán armchair, they were thought to be comparatively rare due to the cost of additional timber in the context of Irish vernacular furniture. 

A simple, but beautiful country-made vernacular Irish hedge chair from the mid-19th Century, ready for a new home to provide decorative utility for the next 100+ years.

 Reference:
*Kinmonth, C. (2020) Irish Country Furniture and furnishings 1700-2000. Cork University Press. pg101.

**The last image showing the Irish hedge chair alongside a Scottish creepie stool is not included in this listing. Contact W&W Antiques for combined shipping for multiple antique items.

Free delivery to the UK mainland as priced. International buyers are welcome, but please contact us prior to payment to confirm the additional packaging, insurance and shipping costs by way of acceptance to your country. Purchaser responsible for local import tariffs/fees. If you are interested in multiple items, please contact us for combined postage.