Ten Antique Holland & Son's Dining Chairs from the British Museum Reading Room

Royal House Antiques

Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of ten handmade original Victorian spoon or medallion back dining chairs with original upholstery made by Holland & Son's for the Reading room of the British Museum circa 1860-1870

Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.

This is a once in a lifetime chance to own this suite of chairs, not only were they made by one of the leading cabinetmakers of the 19th century Holland & Son's, they are in totally 100% original condition and of course made for one of the most prestigious buildings in London, the British Museum no less, I have included above three pictures I found online where you can see the chairs in situs

The Reading Room stands at the heart of the Museum, in the centre of the Great Court. Completed in 1857, it was hailed as one of the great sights of London and became a world-famous centre of learning.

Each chair is stamped twice to the base on the rails "Holland & Son's" there is also order or serial numbers and some initials reading MM or WW, they would have most likely been the initials of the specific cabinet maker who crafted each piece

These chairs have need been fully restored, they have the period finish and polish, the Rexene upholstery is original and most of the castors are as well, one or two would have wornout over the years. The timber looks to be Cuban or Honduras Mahogany, it was being imported by the crème de la crème of cabinet makers in the late 18th and early 19th century, the chairs are approximately three times heavier than the modern day equivalent

Condition wise we have lightly cleaned waxed and polished the chairs from top to bottom, they have the original patina throughout as mentioned all the Rexene is present, some back panels have indentations and cracks as pictured

Dimensions

Height:- 88cm

Width:- 52cm

Depth:- 65cm

Seat height:- 42cm

Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask.

The English firm of Holland & Sons (1803–1942) became from 1843 one of the largest and most successful cabinet makers, and a rival to Gillows of Lancaster and London.

The company's labelled Day books are now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum Archive of Art and Design where they present a virtual "who's who" of nineteenth century society.

The company was established in 1803 by Stephen Taprell and William Holland, a relation of the architect Henry Holland. Always on the leading edge of fashion, Holland & Sons employed some of England's foremost designers and participated in all of the International Exhibitions of 1851, 1855, 1862, 1867, 1872 and 1878. Holland and Sons also participated in many of the leading international exhibitions including London in 1862, Vienna in 1873 and Paris in 1867 and 1872.

After a brief period in which the company was known as Taprell, Holland & Son c.1835-43, William Holland gained sole command after the senior partner Taprell's retirement. From 1843 onwards they were known as Holland and Sons. The relationship between builder and cabinet maker is similar to another leading Victorian firm, Trollope and Sons. Their earliest known commission was to furnish the Athenaeum Club, London, 1824- 1838. They also worked alongside the prestigious firm of Thomas Dowbiggin at Osborne House, and eventually took over their premises and business at 23 Mount Street, London in 1851 and 1853 respectively.

In 1851, when the company was based in Mount Street and employed 351 people, they won a prize at the Great Exhibition for a bookcase. By then, after being granted