Antique Set 12 Hepplewhite Mahogany Dining Chairs 19th Century

This is a fantastic antique English made set of twelve mahogany shield back dining chairs of "Hepplewhite" design, circa 1860 in date.

The set comprising a pair of open armchairs and ten side chairs. The shield backs with decorative rosette, swag and ribbon and bow carving over an inlaid fan roundel, the serpentine stuff over seat raised on tapering turned supports.

The seat cushions have been upholstered in a colourful fabric with red and violet florals on a cream ground. The chairs have been masterfully crafted in beautiful solid mahogany throughout and the finish and attention to detail on display are truly breathtaking.

Transform the fine dining experience in your home with this elegant set of antique dining chairs.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 97 x Width 54 x Depth 51 - Chairs

Height 100 x Width 60 x Depth 57 - Armchairs

Height 46 - Seat Height

Dimensions in inches:

Height 3 foot, 2 inches x Width 1 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches - Chairs

Height 3 foot, 3 inches x Width 2 feet x Depth 1 foot, 10 inches - Armchairs

Height 1 foot, 6 inches - Seat Height

George Hepplewhite

(1727 - 1786) was a cabinetmaker. He is regarded as having been one of the "big three" English furniture makers of the 18th century, along with Thomas Sheraton and Thomas Chippendale.

There are no pieces of furniture made by Hepplewhite or his firm known to exist but he gave his name to a distinctive style of light, elegant furniture that was fashionable between about 1775 and 1800 and reproductions of his designs continued through the following centuries. After he died in 1786, the business was continued by his widow, Alice. In 1788 she published a book with about 300 of his designs, The Cabinet Maker and Upholsterers Guide, with two further editions published in 1789 and 1790.

Hepplewhite produced designs that were slender, more curvilinear in shape and well balanced. There are some characteristics that hint at a Hepplewhite design, such as shorter more curved chair arms, straight legs, shield-shape chair backs, all without carving. The design would receive ornamentation from paint and inlays used on the piece.

Our reference: A3332