Harlequin Chippendale Dining Chairs with Green Leather Seats

A harlequin set of four mahogany Chippendale style dining…
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A harlequin set of four mahogany Chippendale style dining chairs, vase splat back with carved decoration, green leather seats. 51 x 43 x 94 cm. provenance: The collection of John and Valerie Robertson, Auckland.

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  • Harlequin Set - A "harlequin set" or "matched set" of chairs, is a set in which the chairs are similar, but not identical in design and construction, as in a true set. At a time when complete sets of chairs are increasingly difficult to find, dealers often have to rely on assembling a matched set from various sources. The world 'Harlequin' derives from the Italian comedy figure who traditionally wears a diamond-patterned costume. It is sometimes used to describe a pattern of inlay in this design.
  • Splat - The central back support between the top rail and the seat in chairs and couches. They may take a variety of forms, and run either horizontally or vertically.
  • Mahogany - Mahogany is a dense, close grained red-coloured timber from the West Indies and Central America. It was first imported into Europe in the the early 18th century and its use continued through the 19th century. It was popular for furniture making because of its strength, the wide boards available, the distinctive grain on some boards, termed flame mahogany and the rich warm colour of the timber when it was polished.. The "flame" was produced where a limb grew out from the trunk of the tree, and this timber was usually sliced into veneers for feature panels on doors, backs and cornices.

    Some terms used to describe mahogany relate to the country from which it originally came, such as "Cuban" mahogany, "Honduras" mahogany etc. However unless the wood has been tested the names assigned are more a selling feature, rather than a true indication of the timber's origin.
  • Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.
  • Harlequin Set - A harlequin set is a collection of items that are similar in style or design but feature different variations in colour, construction or pattern. The term "harlequin" comes from the traditional costume worn by a character in Italian commedia dell'arte, which is made up of different coloured patches.

    For example with furniture, a harlequin set may refer to a group of chairs, typically dining chairs, where a number of the chairs are identical in design but one or more of the chairs may have a difference in the design of the leg or back. Harlequin sets can be found in silver flatware, porcelain dinner settings and glassware settings.

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