The Bridehead Side Chairs

A set of twelve William IV Gothic Revival oak and caned side chairs.

English, circa 1830.

Lancet form backrest with quatrefoil tracery below the moulded rail, caned seats supported by relief carved square leg with spandrels, quatrefoil to the front rail corners and returns, swept and tapering rear legs.

Dry, faded golden surface, mininum intervention conservation and restoration work to the frames, seven seat bases recaned by Brian Crossley MBE. 

Provenance: Bridehead, Dorset, Robert William II (1767-1847).

The set of chairs was part of an all encompassing suite of library furnishings commissioned for Bridehead during the ownership of Robert Williams II. The estate was being completely remodelled in the Gothic Revival manner in the early part of the 19th century, firstly by architect Peter Fredrick Robinson and latterly Benjamin Ferrey, Ferrey was a pupil and friend of A.W.N Pugin, the renowned "Godfather" of Gothic, his influence on Ferrey and hence Brideheads architecture and this suite is clear.

The suite of library furniture commission for Bridehead is likely the work of Richard Brigdens.

Brigdens was a friend and collabortor of George Bullock, Bullock had previousley helped partially furnish "Moor Park", Hertfordshire, Roberts' Estate prior to him moving to Bridhead, Brigden's work from this period undeniably resembles the suite of furniture produced for Bridehead.

I was fortunate enought to see Bridehead and the entire suite of furniture in-situ prior to the sale and dispersal of the interior furnishings, I feel blessed to have witnessed such a pure embodyment of the early English gothic ethos in such an untouched state in the room it was designd for, it was all still being used by the family, these chairs form a very small part of this most important era of English architecture.

Ten of the chairs measure.

Height 34in (86.5cm).

Width 17in (43.5cm).

Depth 19in (48cm).

Seat height 16in (41cm).

Two chairs measure.

Height 35.5in (90cm).

Width 17in (43.5cm)

Depth 20in (51cm).

Seat height 17.5in (44.5cm).