86. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PAIR OF CHARLES II JAMAICAN CEDAR ARMCHAIRS, CIRCA 1660-1670.

The remarkable pair of Cedar armchairs with cut spiral uprights terminating in urn
finials joined by a scroll carved cresting centred on a perforated winged angel, above
a fielded arched panel with further elongated scrolls and C cusp carving, tenoned
into a scroll and cusp lower rail, the downcurved moulded arms on spiral supports
above a recessed plank seat and guilloche carved front rail, plain side rails, the lower
front rail with further carved scrolls centred by a large perforated winged angel, 126cm high 57.5cm wide 53cm deep set height 43cm (2)

NB. Cedar furniture from the 16th and 17th centuries was predominantly imported
from southern Europe, the pieces were often known as ‘Cypress or Cedar wood’. It is
often mistaken for Yew due to its close grain and ability to attain a remarkable colour
and surface. The major difference being that Cedar is much cleaner grained without
knots and damage; hence it was very prized in furniture making. By the restoration of Charles II to the English throne greater trade was being done with the English colonies in the West Indies, and items of furniture were being made from indigenous imported timbers in the latest fashions; these Armchairs represent a very rare and early example of such furniture.

Provenance: Purchased from William Job Antiques at Grosvenor House Antiques
Fair, Grosvenor House, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, in the early to mid 1980’s.