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Item details

Height

92.0 cm

Width

68.0 cm

Depth

61.0 cm

Wear conditions Wear conditions

Good

Wear conditions

Excellent

Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.

Good

May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.

Average

Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.

Apparent Wear and Tear

Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.

Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.

Description

A gorgeous rare pair of large blonde antique Chinese bent-arm Horseshoe-back armchairs in lovely condition. Almost certainly made in Shandong Province in 19th Century China, these extremely impressive and comfortable armchairs will add beautiful colour, cultured design and Oriental grandeur to any interior.

First depicted in the eleventh Century paintings of the Buddhist saint Weimo, Horseshoe-back armchairs, also called 'Grand Tutor Chairs' or taishi yi, have long been powerful symbols of status within Chinese culture, being seats of honour and status symbols for high-ranking court officials in Ming dynasty China and later reserved for only the most important visitors and members of a household.

Horseshoe-back chairs are amongst the most comfortable chairs ever designed in China and these two are large examples, having especially generous proportions.

As well as their size and creation from blonde willow wood, which allows for the lovely honey-toned colour, patination, craftsmanship and joinery to be appreciated, this pair stands out amongst other Horseshoe-back chairs due to their single-piece construction elements: they have impressive 2.5-inch-thick single-piece bent horseshoe-backs made from a single piece of willow, and incredibly solid front legs, back legs, and seat sides, bent from another single piece to create very solid base structures.

They feature attractive tapering back splats adorned with carvings that include bats (symbolising health, long life, prosperity and love of virtue) and deer (symbol of longevity and prosperity), with border-carved three-piece arch-shaped aprons.

They have beautifully worn hefty front stretchers with double side and back stretchers and mitre-bordered indented large seats. Of the lovely triple arm-stretchers, the front ones having arched spandrels and the front and rear arm-stretchers pierce the seat sides to secure into the upper side-stretchers. A very interesting feature are the faint Chinese symbols hand-scrawled into the lacquer of the horseshoe-backs, presumably for added good luck!

All in all this is a beautiful, colourful, rare and extremely striking pair of large and comfortable Horseshoe-back armchairs, which will impress and add authentic bygone Oriental grandeur to any setting.

Price for set.

Condition report:

These are in very good antique condition. Beautifully constructed, they’re structurally sound and sturdy and are still eminently usable. They have cosmetic signs of wear and patination consistent with their considerable age and have had some very old (probably antique) arrow-headed metal straps added in places to help keep them structurally sound, which only add to their aged appeal. Overall this is a wonderful pair of striking antique armchairs, which if well looked after should last for another 100+ years – please see the photos.

Additional dimensions information:

Height - 91 & , Width - 65 & , Seat Height - 48.5 & 49.5cm, Seat Width - 48.5cm, Seat Depth - 33cm, Arm Height at Front - 74cm, Combined Weight - 17kg.

Material
Other Wood
Manufactured
Origin
China
Item location
Warwick, United Kingdom
Period
19th Century
Designer
Unknown
Brand
Unknown
Condition
Used

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Estimated delivery time

Less than one week

Free collection available

Yes

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Professional
5.0 / 5
Located in Warwick, United Kingdom
  • Selling at Vinterior since 2022
  • 45 sales
  • Ships from Warwick, United Kingdom
At River Spa Vintage, we have a passion for special & unusual finds and wonderful design. We're always on the lookout for the best in vintage, antique and designer furniture and objects, so you’ll always be able to find something you adore.

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