Seeking information on a Georgian(?) chair.

Afternoon all.

I recently purchased an old chair from an auction and was chasing some information about the style, period and also wood type, if it's not a reproduction that is.

The only marks I can see is John Parker Jr stamped on the underside and the Roman numerals Vlll etched on the topside of where the seat cushion lays.
It also has a faded unreadable sticker on the underside of the chair as well.

I have researched a little and believe the leg shape to be in the sabre style which is why I have assumed Georgian.

However I thought I would turn it over to some experts within this forum, to collect a bit more concrete information.

Many thanks in advance, Gen.

 

I think you are in the right general era for the style but what you call it might depend on what side of the pond you are. I would probably peg this as generally Federal in style. However, this is not a period chair and not truly a reproduction. Construction suggests 1940s or so.

 

That's a beautiful chair!


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Thank you so much for the information VeryBrad. I am on the other side of the pond (more like an Olympic swimming pool) I live in Western Australia.
It is also a little tricky to know if you have an English piece or an Australian interpretation, given we have a vast multicultural community.

 

Thanks, I thought so too. I paid a very reasonable price for it to which makes it a lot prettier

 

This is a chair dating to around 1820. The thick veneer, cut by hand rather than machine helps date this. The wood is mahogany with flame mahogany panel on the back. The carved roman numerals, 9, show that it was one of a large set. The reeded front rail and legs are good quality, as is the leaf carving. I can't find anything about John Parker Jn, but I'd guess he could be american. Therefore, this would be federal period. Well worth doing more research on.

 

Thanks RobMassier for the fascinating information.
To know that it is so old is exciting.
I am very glad that I was able to purchase it and hold on to a piece of history.
Thank you for your input, much appreciated.

 

Hello, attached is photo of a hall chair of about the same date from my collection. This was made by Gillows of Lancaster, UK. Notice the front rail and legs. I'd love to know how your research comes along. R

 

It is a beautiful chair, the leg similarities are encouraging and I will post any information I can find in the future on any research that turns up.
As I am from Australia it is possible this piece may have come out with an emigranting family.
It had been reupholstered, and as a supposition, John Parker may have been the upholster?
Thank you for sharing your own piece it has encouraged me to search further

 

I am afraid that I dropped the ball on this one. Some further research leads me to concur with RobMassier's assessment. I was not aware of a historical precedence for this type of leg attachment continuous with the sides as seen here. It is commonly seen in 1940s chairs and I assumed it a modern adaptation. The devil is in the details and, had I bothered to look closer, the signs that this is an old chair are there. Mea culpa

Here is a somewhat similar period chair I found with the same type of leg construction..


Source:

http://www.chicoraantiques.com/rare...ogany-dining-chairs-from-new-york-circa-1815/

 

While I can ferret out that VIIII might be meaning 9, it isn't actually the Roman numeral for 9. Just throwing that out there because it bugs me a little.

 

Yes bugged me too, normally written as IX

 

I've seen it written here as VIIII . It's more obviously the number nine than IX which can be interpreted as nine or eleven if you read it the wrong way up! I suspect Mr Parker was the customer/owner.

 

What OBB said..................I find it more common as a "marking" than as a "number" so to speak

 

I love chair and this one is really nice. I thought Empire, but I have to be honest that dating antiques can be daunting.

 

Thanks everyone for all the information and the searches. It has certainly yielded more than I had expected.
Very pleased to know I own such a lovely piece of furniture.