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ID #SA630865
FOR SALE
£795
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'Japanned' Chair C.1700 - 15.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
for sale €930     $1,010
£795
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art

Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2003
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    Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Id #SA630865
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'Japanned' Chair C.1700 - 15.

18th century
Description

This elegant chair is a fine example of the Queen Anne period c.1700; tall and elegant, it has the angled front legs the advent of which was the 1690s, and was an important new stage in English chair design. The fashionable life of the 'corner horsebone' leg was from the 1690s to about 1715.

This style of cane backed and seated chairs had represented a revolution in seating comfort, but with the disadvantage of fragility.

A surprising number of these chairs still exist (they were made in their thousands) but many are now suitable only for decorative purposes as woodworm, frequent recaning and damage to the joints and the tall backs have rendered them virtually unusable.

This one has been recaned, is sound and completely usable.

The chair is 'japanned', which was an English attempt to copy the very fashionable lacquered furniture being imported from the Orient. 'Japanning' was a prolonged, and therefore expensive, business. In the 1690s it was advised that 24 coats of seed-lac be applied, each one being allowed to dry before the next coat was applied, then polished, and then the gilt decoration to be painstakingly applied. This makes this chair really quite rare. Another unusual feature is the very decorative stretcher with a well turned finial.

DIMENSIONS: 53 inches tall, 18.5 inches at widest point. 19 inches deep.

PROVENANCE: In the Private Collection of a now retired Suffolk antiques dealer for the last 50 years.

Physical Dimensions
Height
135cm (53.15")
Width
47cm (18.50")
Depth
48cm (18.90")
Declaration

Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this Japanned Cane Side Chair to the 1700s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA630865
Dealers Internal Reference
9143
Description
This elegant chair is a fine example of the Queen Anne period c.
“
1700; tall and elegant, it has the angled front legs the advent of which was the 1690s, and was an important new stage in English chair design.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art

The fashionable life of the 'corner horsebone' leg was from the 1690s to about 1715.

fig 1. A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting.
fig 1. 'Japanned' Chair C.1700 - 15.

This style of cane backed and seated chairs had represented a revolution in seating comfort, but with the disadvantage of fragility.

A surprising number of these chairs still exist (they were made in their thousands) but many are now suitable only for decorative purposes as woodworm, frequent recaning and damage to the joints and the tall backs have rendered them virtually unusable.

fig 2. A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting.
fig 2. 'Japanned' Chair C.1700 - 15.

This one has been recaned, is sound and completely usable.

The chair is 'japanned', which was an English attempt to copy the very fashionable lacquered furniture being imported from the Orient. 'Japanning' was a prolonged, and therefore expensive, business. In the 1690s it was advised that 24 coats of seed-lac be applied, each one being allowed to dry before the next coat was applied, then polished, and then the gilt decoration to be painstakingly applied. This makes this chair really quite rare. Another unusual feature is the very decorative stretcher with a well turned finial.

DIMENSIONS: 53 inches tall, 18.5 inches at widest point. 19 inches deep.

PROVENANCE: In the Private Collection of a now retired Suffolk antiques dealer for the last 50 years.

Height
135cm (53.15")
Width
47cm (18.50")
Depth
48cm (18.90")
Date of Manufacture

Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this Japanned Cane Side Chair to the 1700s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA630865
Dealers Internal Ref
9143
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2003

Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art Profile Page

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A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting.
1 / 7
Archive I A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting.

'Japanned' chair c.1700 - 15.

Archive II A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting. View II
Archive III A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting. View III
Archive IV A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting. View IV
Archive V A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting. View V
Archive VI A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting. View VI
Archive VII A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting. View VII
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Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art

Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Telephone 01249 815048 or 07710 222273
Location
Wiltshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/rp
Verified Since Mar 2003
Items For Sale 95
Items Sold 679
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Verified Since Mar 2003
View Dealer Info
Location: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/rp
Verified
Mar 2003
For Sale
95
Sold
679
A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting.
'Japanned' chair c.1700 - 15.
Ref: SA630865
A tall-backed black japanned side chair featuring a cane seat panel, a central woven cane splat, turned uprights, and carved cresting.
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FAQs

Japanned chairs feature a European technique created to imitate Asian lacquerwork, which gained widespread popularity in Europe during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. These pieces were constructed with timber frames coated in spirit-based varnishes and decorated with raised gilding or painted designs.

These chairs typically combine timber frames, such as beech, pine, or oak, with hand-woven cane for the seat and central back panel. The surface finish consists of layers of dark lacquer, spirit varnish, and metallic paint or gold leaf applied to form raised decorative motifs.

Authentic pieces from circa 1700 to 1715 exhibit hand-carved elements, baluster or spiral-turned uprights, and hand-woven cane panels showing minor irregularities. The japanned surface frequently displays fine craquelure, natural surface wear along structural joints, and subtle degradation of the original varnish consistent with age.

An antique japanned chair functions effectively as a standalone accent piece in an entrance hallway, study alcove, or bedroom corner. Its dark silhouette and textured cane weave offer contrast against modern light-coloured walls and minimalist architectural features.

Japanned surfaces require protection from direct sunlight, heat sources, and fluctuating humidity levels to prevent flaking or cracking of the lacquer finish. Dusting should be executed gently using a soft, dry cloth without liquid cleaners, waxes, or commercial solvents.
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