A 19th century mahogany recumbent armchair for invalids by John Ward Ltd. With a reclining wing back, hinged arms and pull-out double racheted foot rest and upholstered in a sage green velvet. On ring-turned front legs and large brass castors and the reverse with label ‘JOHN WARD LTD, Tottenham Court Rd, LONDON W1’. John Ward went into partnership with Thomas Griffin, invalid chair-maker, 6 Leicester Square in about 1845. By 1851 Griffin had retired and Ward exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 where he was awarded a prize medal. One of his exhibits was the ‘Improved Recumbent Chair for Invalids, spring stuffed, covered with Utrecht velvet, mounted on brass wheels, and adapted for a bed or couch; with shifting elbows, for the convenience of the patient; double action leg-rest ….. etc. ’. The firm appears to have continued trading until 1903.In very good condition this is a very robust chair with a number of reclining positions, a foot rest that can either be set at ...