William IV Patent Reclining Mahogany Library Armchair
ENGLAND, 2nd quarter 19th century
Height: 40 inches (102cm)
Width: 29 inches (75cm)
Depth (upright): 34 inches (86.5cm)
Depth (fully reclined): 68 inches (173cm)
With boldly carved acanthus leaf sides, turned lobed front legs and outswept back supports. The reclining action is activated by depressing the mahogany buttons on the arms which releases the ratchets concealed beneath the arm pads, the pull-out foot rest with adjustable upholstered pad. Re-upholstered in suede.
It is likely that the chair was exhibited at the Great Exhibition, London, 1851. The chair’s design is illustrated in the publication: Illustrations of Furniture, Candelabra, Musical Instruments From the Great Exhibitions of London & Paris with Examples of Similar Articles From Royal Palaces and Noble Mansions, John Braund, London, 1858 (see below).
One of the earliest designs for a reclining chair was published in a British periodical, Ackennann’s Repository of Arts, in 1813. The “Reclining Patent Chair” was a prototype for hundreds of such chairs that were made throughout the century.
- The design for a version of this chair which included a reading slope, as published in Pictorial Dictionary of British 19th Century Furniture Design, apparently reproduced from Illustrations of Furniture (etc) From the Great Exhibitions of London & Paris with Examples of Similar Articles From Royal Palaces and Noble Mansions, John Braund, London, 1858
