Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 18. (Budapest, 1999)

New acquisitions 1998

NEW ACQUISITIONS 1998* DEPARTMENT OF FURNITURE Armchair English, or Hungarian made to English design, late 19th c. Solid mahogany with turned parts, back upholstered in suede Height: 81 cm; width: 49 cm; depth: 58 cm The armchair's shaped solid seat is supported at the back by curving legs, which continue upwards as parts of the back. The front legs are straight, turned, and tapered towards the bottom. The legs are connected together by characteristic "crinoline", or spur-shaped, stretchers consisting of turned pieces, one semi-circular and two straight. Its rounded arms are supported by curved supports fixed to the back of the chair with screws. The chair back, which newly covered in suede pinned down by conspicuous brass studs is moderately padded. In its present state the chair is disproportionately low: the original casters are missing, and repairs to the legs and replacement parts in beech wood are visible. Donated by Mrs. László Kapolyi and Zoltán Merszei, 1998 Inv. No.: 98.69 This type of armchair, to which the Museum of Applied Arts piece also belongs, *A survay containing only the more important items evolved in the second half of the 19th century, becoming truly widespread in the last quarter of the century as a later, slightly "middle class", version of the Windsor chair. With regard to its shape its kinship with Windsor chairs is shown by two characteristic elements in its design: the low solid seat and the "crinoline" stretchers connecting the legs. Because of the unusually low seat, which is extremely comfortable, and the casters - frequently used on English furniture -, it was a practical item of furniture in spaces serving various func-