Thomas Chippendale at Harewood House. A celebration of the life and work of Thomas Chippendale - Master Furniture Maker. Presented by Harewood House Trust.

Easy Chair
c.1774
The Paxton Trust, Paxton House

This is an extremely important chair on two counts. Firstly, Nostell Priory is the only other Chippendale house where a documented easy chair survives, and secondly it is exceptionally rare because so much of the original upholstery including the webbing, stuffing, layers of canvas, linen and other material survive undisturbed. Although rather sad in appearance, its crippled state is enormously instructive, providing evidence of how an 18th century chair was constructed without having to take it apart.

It was invoiced, en suite with six side chairs and two armchairs (of which only one remains at Paxton), on 7 June 1774 and described as 'an Easy Chair to match & Stuffd in linnen with a fine down Cushion and Castors Ł3 12s -d'. It was also supplied with '2 setts Superfine Chints Cotton Cases . . . Ł7 10s -d'.

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