Child's Chair

Artist:Unknown

Medium: Teakwood and natural fiber

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:last quarter 19th century

Dimensions: 26 x 15 7/8 x 18 1/2 in. (66 x 40.3 x 47 cm)

Collections:

Accession Number: 2013.13

Catalogue Description:
An Anglo-Indian child’s armchair of curule form and rectangular members decorated throughout with intricate foliate carving. The rectangular back and gadrooned hard seat are finished with caning interwoven in a symmetrical pattern. The crest above the chair back depicts a downward-diving bird flanked by two pomegranates, its extended wings merging into an abstract foliate design. The finials on either side of the crest are forward-facing kneeling figures in draped attire, placed above two shallowly-carved lizards decorating the chair shoulders. The chair arms morph into identical dragon-like creatures carved in the round, their scaled, winged bodies terminating in pointed tails and their clawed feet resting on anthropomorphic seated figures. Two stretchers carved with foliate designs are placed between the curved legs, the crossing of which is decorated with demon-like masks in high relief. The chair rests on four anthropomorphic feet shaped like crouching figures, facing forward under the front legs and backwards under the back legs. CONDITION: Overall good condition, seemingly revived recently.

Brooklyn Museum