Seating in Silhouettte: Chairs in Profile

A George II walnut side chair attributed to Giles Grendey shown in profile Mackinnon Fine Furniture Collection Back by popular demand... we are looking at chairs from a different angle today. A George II walnut Gainsborough chair attributed to Giles Grendey Mackinnon Fine Furniture Collection You would always expect to see a chair front on, or perhaps at a …

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An Upholsterer’s Dilemma: Picking Fabric for Antique Chairs

Sometimes, though not often, antique chairs retain their original upholstery: the Warwick Castle armchairs and Newhailes library chairs are two notable exceptions. When the time comes to choose fresh upholstery for antique chairs, there are a number of options to pick from, including silk damask, velvet (either plain or cut velvet), patterned silk, or needlework, to …

Happy 300th Birthday, Thomas Chippendale

Today, June 5 2018, marks Thomas Chippendale's 300th birthday.  Quite an achievement! We have covered Thomas Chippendale on our blog before: providing some examples of giltwood mirrors designs by the cabinetmaker, sharing an exciting discovery about an early exhibition on Chippendale, and most recently exploring the wonderful chair designs of Chippendale. Today, we will highlight some lesser …

It’s All Greek (or Latin, or Celtic) to Me: The Origin of Furniture Vocabulary

We use basic furniture vocabulary every day without thinking twice: chair, table, mirror... the list goes on.  But when you pause for a minute and think about the origins of these words, you have to go back several thousand years.  Today we will look at just a few of them. Chair The word chair dates …

The Sign of the Chair: Exceptional Antique Chairs & Their Histories

We are delighted to announce the publication of our latest online catalogue, The Sign of the Chair: Exceptional Antique Chairs & Their Histories. The catalogue spans the 18th and early 19th centuries, and the most celebrated cabinetmakers of their time are all represented in these pages, including James Moore, Giles Grendey, William Hallett, Gillows of Lancaster …

Make a Good First Impression: Georgian Hall Chairs

The antique hall chair is the epitome of the first impression.  These chairs were often one of the first pieces one would see when entering the house.  These chairs were placed in the main hall or entryway and served as a seat for guests who were waiting to enter the rest of the house. Hall chairs …

Always Find Your Best Angle: Chairs in Profile

We recently did a post about the photography we do for the pieces in our collection.  Today we are looking at this subject in closer detail, specifically focusing on highlighting a certain angle of a piece of furniture, even if it is not the most obvious one. You would always except to see a chair …

Flashback Friday: A Piece from the Archives

We are no strangers to the social media trend to use 'throwback Thursday' and 'flashback Friday' - and we are happy to jump on the bandwagon to discuss a piece from our collection archive.  We acquired a rare and very fine pair of George III mahogany side chairs, which featured exceptional quality carving of great depth …

Upholstered in Textile: Georgian Seating with Needlework

When looking at Georgian furniture it is easy to go straight to the chair frame to look at its patina, carving, and style.  The upholstery on chairs of this date is often replaced, but there are rare occasions when the original textile survives. Today we are focusing on a few pieces from our collection that …