Painted George III Chair with Cherub Cartouche

• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Rail - A term used by cabinet makers for the horizontal sections of the frame of an item such as a chair or settee which have a front rail, a back rail and two side rails, and also on a door or carcase, where the rails are joined to the vertical framings.
• Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.
  
  In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
• George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
• Turning - Any part of a piece of furniture that has been turned and shaped with chisels on a lathe. Turned sections include legs, columns, feet, finials, pedestals, stretchers, spindles etc. There have been many varieties and fashions over the centuries: baluster, melon, barley-sugar, bobbin, cotton-reel, rope-twist, and so on. Split turning implies a turned section that has been cut in half lengthwise and applied to a cabinet front as a false decorative support.
• Damask - Damask is a type of fabric that is characterized by its glossy finish, smooth texture, and intricate designs. The fabric is typically made from a combination of silk and other natural fibers, such as cotton or linen, and is often used to make clothing, upholstery, and other decorative items.
  
  The origins of damask fabric can be traced back to ancient Rome and the Byzantine Empire, where it was used to make clothing and other textiles.
  
  The fabric is made by weaving the fabric in such a way that the design is created by the different reflectivity of the warp and weft threads, rather than by the use of dyed threads. The designs are often floral or geometric patterns and can be very intricate. The effect is a reversible fabric, with a glossy pattern on one side and a matte pattern on the other.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• chairs, singles - Georgian 550