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Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920
Regent Antiques
for sale €7,313     $7,938
£6,250
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques

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    We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
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Id #SA1186060
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Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

1900 - 1920
For Sale by Regent Antiques
Description

A superb set of eight antique Art Deco burr walnut and coromandel dining chairs attributed to the world renowned cabinet makers Harry & Lou Epstein, Circa 1920 in date.

The set of eight chairs are the highly desirable cloud back model and comprises two armchairs and six side chairs, all with curved backs in burr walnut with coromandel banding. They have all been reupholstered in a sumptuous cream leather. 

This set is a fabulous example of the Art Deco period and will enhance any room in which it is placed.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleand, waxed and reupholstered, in cream leather, in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 93 cm x Width 57 cm x Depth 52 cm  - Armchairs

Height 93 cm x Width 51 cm x Depth 48 cm  - Side Chairs

Height 47 cm  - Seat Height

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches - Armchairs

Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 7 inches - Side Chairs

Height 1 foot, 6 inches - Seat Height

Epstein furniture

was originally founded in East London by Polish immigrants in the 1890s. The firm passed to brothers Harry and Lou Epstein and the pair turned their attention to the production of Art Deco forms from the 1930s until the 1950s. 

Finished to high standards, most pieces were custom-made in veneers of burr maple, sycamore or walnut. The design of the famous ‘cloud’ seat furniture is credited to Epstein and the company also popularized the uniquely British taste in suite furniture. 

Following World War II, Epstein had showrooms in London, Manchester and Glasgow. A conservative Art Deco style became the company`s trademark after the war and most pieces were made from bleached walnut. Art Deco pieces are not signed.

From the 1960s, some pieces were labelled ‘H. & L. Epstein’ or ‘Epstein & Goldman’.

Art Deco or Deco,

is an influential visual arts design style which first appeared in France during the 1920s, flourished internationally during the 30s and 40s.

It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Ageimagery and materials. The style is often characterized by rich colours, bold geometric shapes, and lavish ornamentation.

Deco emerged from the Interwar period when rapid industrialization was transforming culture. One of its major attributes is an embrace of technology. This distinguishes Deco from the organic motifs favored by its predecessor Art Nouveau.

Historian Bevis Hillier defined Art Deco as "an assertively modern style...[that] ran to symmetry rather than asymmetry, and to the rectilinear rather than the curvilinear; it responded to the demands of the machine and of new material...[and] the requirements of mass production".

During its heyday Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress.

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka  and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuin

Physical Dimensions
Height
93cm (36.61")
Width
57cm (22.44")
Depth
52cm (20.47")
Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated these Art Deco Dining Chairs to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1186060
Dealers Internal Reference
A4852a
Description
A superb set of eight antique Art Deco burr walnut and coromandel dining chairs attributed to the world renowned cabinet makers Harry & Lou Epstein, Circa 1920 in date.
The set of eight chairs are the highly desirable cloud back model and comprises two armchairs and six side chairs, all with curved backs in burr walnut with coromandel banding.
Regent Antiques

They have all been reupholstered in a sumptuous cream leather. 

fig 1. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 1. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

This set is a fabulous example of the Art Deco period and will enhance any room in which it is placed.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleand, waxed and reupholstered, in cream leather, in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 2. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Dimensions in cm:

Height 93 cm x Width 57 cm x Depth 52 cm  - Armchairs

Height 93 cm x Width 51 cm x Depth 48 cm  - Side Chairs

Height 47 cm  - Seat Height

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches - Armchairs

fig 3. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 3. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Height 3 feet, 1 inch x Width 1 foot, 8 inches x Depth 1 foot, 7 inches - Side Chairs

Height 1 foot, 6 inches - Seat Height

Epstein furniture

was originally founded in East London by Polish immigrants in the 1890s. The firm passed to brothers Harry and Lou Epstein and the pair turned their attention to the production of Art Deco forms from the 1930s until the 1950s. 

fig 4. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 4. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Finished to high standards, most pieces were custom-made in veneers of burr maple, sycamore or walnut. The design of the famous ‘cloud’ seat furniture is credited to Epstein and the company also popularized the uniquely British taste in suite furniture. 

fig 5. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 5. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Following World War II, Epstein had showrooms in London, Manchester and Glasgow. A conservative Art Deco style became the company`s trademark after the war and most pieces were made from bleached walnut. Art Deco pieces are not signed.

fig 6. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 6. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

From the 1960s, some pieces were labelled ‘H. & L. Epstein’ or ‘Epstein & Goldman’.

Art Deco or Deco,

is an influential visual arts design style which first appeared in France during the 1920s, flourished internationally during the 30s and 40s.

fig 7. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 7. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

It is an eclectic style that combines traditional craft motifs with Machine Ageimagery and materials. The style is often characterized by rich colours, bold geometric shapes, and lavish ornamentation.

fig 8. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 8. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Deco emerged from the Interwar period when rapid industrialization was transforming culture. One of its major attributes is an embrace of technology. This distinguishes Deco from the organic motifs favored by its predecessor Art Nouveau.

fig 9. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 9. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Historian Bevis Hillier defined Art Deco as "an assertively modern style...[that] ran to symmetry rather than asymmetry, and to the rectilinear rather than the curvilinear; it responded to the demands of the machine and of new material...[and] the requirements of mass production".

fig 10. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 10. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

During its heyday Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress.

Coromandel wood or Calamander wood

is a valuable wood from India, Sri Lanka  and South East Asia. It is of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes (or the other way about), very heavy and hard. It is also known as Macassar Ebony or variegated ebony and is closely related to genuine ebony, but is obtained from different species in the same genus; one of these is Diospyros quaesita Thwaites, from Sri Lanka. The name Calamander comes from the local sinhalese name, 'kalu-medhiriya', which means dark chamber; referring to the characteristic ebony black wood.

fig 11. A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
fig 11. Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Coromandel wood has been logged to extinction over the last 2 to 3 hundred years and is no longer available for new work in any quantity. Furniture in coromandel is so expensive and so well looked after that even recycling it is an unlikely source. A substitute, Macassar Ebony, has similar characteristics and to the untrained eye is nearly the same but it lacks the depth of colour seen in genuin

Height
93cm (36.61")
Width
57cm (22.44")
Depth
52cm (20.47")
Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated these Art Deco Dining Chairs to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1186060
Dealers Internal Ref
A4852a
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Regent Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA

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A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
1 / 17
Archive I A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.

Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920

Archive II A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View II
Archive III A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View III
Archive IV A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View IV
Archive V A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View V
Archive VI A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View VI
Archive VII A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View VII
Archive VIII A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View VIII
Archive IX A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View IX
Archive X A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View X
Archive XI A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XI
Archive XII A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XII
Archive XIII A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XIII
Archive XIV A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XIV
Archive XV A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XV
Archive XVI A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XVI
Archive XVII A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests. View XVII
Enlarged Archival View
Location
Manor Warehouse
318 Green Lanes
London
N4 1BX
United Kingdom
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 659
Items Sold 2,608
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Manor Warehouse, 318 Green Lanes, London, N4 1BX, United Kingdom
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
659
Sold
2,608
A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
Antique Set 8 Art Deco Burr Walnut Cloud Back Chairs - Epstein Circa 1920
Ref: SA1186060
A set of eight Art Deco dining chairs featuring cream leather upholstery, curved cloud-shaped backrests, and tapered timber legs, including two carvers with dark veneered armrests.
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Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

Originating in the 1920s and 1930s, cloud back chairs are characterized by top rails carved or shaped in stepped, scalloped curves reminiscent of cloud formations. This motif became synonymous with British Art Deco furniture makers such as the Epstein brothers.

Art Deco chairs typically feature solid hardwood internal frames overlaid with rich veneers such as burr walnut, birds-eye maple, or macassar ebony. Upholstery originally consisted of leather, velour, or patterned textiles.

Authentic pieces exhibit hand-matched figured veneers, solid timber corner blocking beneath the seat frames, and low-slung, streamlined silhouettes. Traditional joinery methods and original horsehair or spring webbing also signal period craftsmanship.

Pair these sculptural chairs with a minimalist timber table or a modern glass-topped table to highlight their distinctive curved silhouettes. Neutral leather upholstery allows them to integrate smoothly into both contemporary and vintage-inspired interiors.

Clean timber surfaces with a soft cloth and apply a natural beeswax polish twice a year along the grain. Keep leather upholstery supple by wiping with a damp cloth and treating regularly with a specialized leather conditioner, away from direct sunlight.
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