Antique Art Nouveau Edwardian Mahogany Barrel Back 2-Seater Settee Sofa, 1910s

Details

Description

A rare and exceedingly charming edwardian art nouveau mahogany inlaid settee in lovely antique condition. Made in london circa 1910, … Read more A rare and exceedingly charming edwardian art nouveau mahogany inlaid settee in lovely antique condition. Made in london circa 1910, this beautifully decorative barrel-back sofa will add gorgeously graceful colouring and more than a touch of bygone quality, antique finery and a timelessly chic aesthetic to any interior. Used for ‘best’ by one family since production, this sofa comes with wonderful provenance and a riveting history and is part of a set that includes two matching armchairs and four dining chairs. This listing is for the sofa only – please contact us and see our other listings for the set and the dining chairs.

reassuringly heavy and made of richly toned solid mahogany, this very attractive two-seater sofa features a standout ‘barrel-back’ design with the bentwood mahogany back wrapping round the enclosed seat, which is finished in padded and sprung, excellent quality soft dusky-pink upholstery. A fine and practical edwardian piece that stands the test of time, this charming settee is decorative without being overly elaborate and sits beautifully within a modern interior.

providing outstanding decorative elegance are the parallel boxwood inlaid banding running along the crest rail enclosing an attractive two-tone art nouveau central motif. These are complemented by eye-catching, circular inlaid motifs to the front of the crest rail, above the arm supports. Along with the gorgeous dusky-pink upholstery and trim, this fine golden inlay work provides a charming contrast to the richer tones of the lovely mahogany wood.

the piped upholstery is bordered by lovely pink trim and the mahogany frame features a curving back rail, an incised front apron and carved and squared tapering front legs, set on metal pin feet. The shapely, squared and curving rear legs face outwards from corners of the back, which along with the enclosed back, ensure the piece can be admired from all angles, suggesting it would have originally been intended to be situated towards the centre of a grand parlour.

historical provenance
the settee, matching armchairs and four dining chairs have been in the same family since new – well almost. A particularly special set, they were bespoke made for a high-ranking british army officer stationed at woolwich barracks during the first world war, who put them in storage at a woolwich furniture store when his fiancée ended their engagement. They were then sold to a fellow serviceman’s fiancée in 1915, who only retrieved them from storage at the end of the war in 1918, along with a kind letter from the army officer wishing the couple a long and happy marriage, which they duly had. The couple lived in london’s east end all their lives and kept this special set ‘for best’, which they then passed down to the next generation. The set and family also survived bombing during world war 2 when their house was hit by a v2 rocket. The set has have been lovingly looked after by one family for over a century.

condition
this settee is in good antique condition. Structurally sound and sturdy, it has been lovingly cared for and used ‘for best’ by one family since being made. The soft dusky-pink upholstery is in lovely condition with hardly any marks and there are only to-be-expected cosmetic wear, knocks and marks to show its interesting history and not inconsiderable age. Overall it is a gorgeous and rare antique barrel-back settee in lovely antique condition and if well looked after it should remain so for generations to come – please see the photos.

measurements
height – 74cm, width – 126.5cm, depth - 69cm, seat height - 44cm, seat width – 114cm, seat depth - 58cm, weight – 22.5kg. See less