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ID #SA802766
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£985
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Rare Laburnum Armchair C.1680.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
for sale €1,152     $1,251
£985
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.
Id #SA802766
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Rare Laburnum Armchair C.1680.

17th century
Description

This is a very rare piece of furniture in laburnum wood, Scottish, Dutch influenced as was much chair design at this time, with spiral turned open arms, raised on turned legs joined by further spiral turned stretchers. It is expensively upholstered in cut velvet.

There are small areas of old woodworm damage, non active, and the ball feet have been replaced; the chair is sturdy, sound and perfectly usable.

It has an interesting PROVENANCE, having belonged to WILLIAM TEACHER (1811-1876), Scottish wine and spirit merchant, and thence by descent.

William Teacher was working in a grocer’s shop in the Glasgow district of Anderston when he married the grocer’s daughter in 1834 and began to sell whisky from the shop. In 1856 he was granted a ‘licence for consumption’ and opened his first ‘Dram Shop’. Ultimately the chain of well-regulated premises with high quality whisky on sale grew to 18, making William Teacher the largest single licence holder in Glasgow.

By this time his sons William Jr. and Adam had joined the business and the family firm became involved in wholesaling and in blending whisky. Early brands offered by the Teachers included Australian Bonded Grand Liqueur, Extra Special and Hibernian Cream, but the one that proved most popular was named Highland Cream, which was registered in 1884.

DIMENSIONS: 25.25 inches wide, 44.5 inches tall, 16.5 inches deep.

Physical Dimensions
Height
113cm (44.49")
Width
64cm (25.20")
Depth
42cm (16.54")
Declaration

Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this Carolean Barley Twist Armchair to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA802766
Dealers Internal Reference
9227
Description
This is a very rare piece of furniture in laburnum wood, Scottish, Dutch influenced as was much chair design at this time, with spiral turned open arms, raised on turned legs joined by further spiral turned stretchers. It is expensively upholstered in cut velvet.
There are small areas of old woodworm damage, non active, and the ball feet have been replaced; the chair is sturdy, sound and perfectly usable.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
fig 1. A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery.
fig 1. Rare Laburnum Armchair C.1680.

It has an interesting PROVENANCE, having belonged to WILLIAM TEACHER (1811-1876), Scottish wine and spirit merchant, and thence by descent.

William Teacher was working in a grocer’s shop in the Glasgow district of Anderston when he married the grocer’s daughter in 1834 and began to sell whisky from the shop. In 1856 he was granted a ‘licence for consumption’ and opened his first ‘Dram Shop’. Ultimately the chain of well-regulated premises with high quality whisky on sale grew to 18, making William Teacher the largest single licence holder in Glasgow.

fig 2. A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery.
fig 2. Rare Laburnum Armchair C.1680.

By this time his sons William Jr. and Adam had joined the business and the family firm became involved in wholesaling and in blending whisky. Early brands offered by the Teachers included Australian Bonded Grand Liqueur, Extra Special and Hibernian Cream, but the one that proved most popular was named Highland Cream, which was registered in 1884.

DIMENSIONS: 25.25 inches wide, 44.5 inches tall, 16.5 inches deep.

Height
113cm (44.49")
Width
64cm (25.20")
Depth
42cm (16.54")
Date of Manufacture

Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this Carolean Barley Twist Armchair to the 17th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA802766
Dealers Internal Ref
9227
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 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery.
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Archive I A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery.

Rare Laburnum Armchair c.1680.

Archive II A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View II
Archive III A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View III
Archive IV A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View IV
Archive V A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View V
Archive VI A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View VI
Archive VII A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View VII
Archive VIII A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery. View VIII
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Wiltshire
United Kingdom
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Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art
Verified Since Mar 2003
View Dealer Info
Location: Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Verified
Mar 2003
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A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery.
Rare Laburnum Armchair c.1680.
Ref: SA802766
A 17th-century Carolean open armchair made from laburnum wood with spiral barley twist turnings and crimson patterned velvet upholstery.
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Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
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.

Carolean or Restoration seating dates from 1660 to 1685 during the reign of King Charles II. It is characterised by ornate turnings, such as barley twist or spiral legs, high backrests, and the introduction of lavish upholstered fabric or caning.

Cabinetmakers during this era utilised solid indigenous hardwoods such as oak, walnut, and indigenous timbers like laburnum. Upholstery frequently featured rich fabrics including velvet, silk damask, or needlework attached with brass tacks.

Authentic pieces feature hand-lathed spiral turnings with slight irregularities rather than modern machine uniform spirals. Look for pegged mortise and tenon joinery, historical wear on the stretchers where feet rested, and dark age-related patination.

Position the piece as an accent chair in a study, library, or hallway to highlight its architectural silhouette. Pairing historical seating with neutral contemporary walls and minimal decor creates a balanced contrast between old and new.

Maintain timber elements by applying a high-grade beeswax polish once or twice a year to nourish the wood and preserve the patina. Keep the piece away from direct heat sources and prolonged sunlight to prevent timber warping and fabric fading.
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