Pair of Gainsborough Library Chairs in the Irish Georgian Style

PRESENTING A GORGEOUS and INTRIGUING Pair of Gainsborough Library Chairs in the Irish Georgian Style.

Made of walnut, probably in the 1980’s and probably made and upholstered in the US ….. for the ‘amusing and ironic’ reasons, we will ‘delve’ into later in this posting!

This pair of beautiful re-production chairs, were styled upon “Gainsborough’ Library Armchairs, from the Georgian Era of British & Irish furniture.

This pair were specifically styled on the ‘Irish’ Georgian Style, with the ‘hairy paw’ feet and the ‘Celtic Knot” motif on the armrests. Both motif’s being, ‘synonymous’, with Irish Georgian furniture in the mid to late 18th Century!

Both are upholstered in an antique style, ‘Coat of Arms’, tapestry style fabric, with various family ‘Coats of Arms’ or ‘Crests’ and family ‘Motto’s’ displayed.

The chairs each sit, on 4 curved legs, with acanthus winged armorial style central medallions on each leg’s knee and classic “hairy paw’ feet on all 4 feet.

When we first saw these chairs, we immediately identified them as good quality, reproduction Irish Georgian style chairs, but were ‘intrigued’ by the upholstery.

It looks like the upholstery is ‘original’ to the pair!

Initially, we assumed that these might have been ‘Irish-made’ in the mid to late 20C, BUT, then we researched the most prominent Crest/Coat of Arms and Motto on the fabric, namely, the one that has an armorial shield under crown with lion passant in the center and the flags of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in 4 sections. Inserted into a circle, with the Motto: ” Pax Quaeritur Bello 1658,”

Much to our ‘initial shock’ and then ‘amusement’, this Crest & Motto are the family Crest/Coat of Arms & Logo of the ‘infamous’ …. “Sir Oliver Cromwell”!!!

“Cromwell’ is without doubt, the ‘most loathed and reviled figure’, (to most Irish people) in Irish history!

There is simply … NO WAY …. that an ‘Irish’ person, would put this fabric on an Irish chair …unless they had a very ‘twisted’ sense of humor …. like us! LOL

Therefore, these chairs must have been made in the US and upholstered with fabric that simply looked ‘historic’ and from ‘the Old Country’, with a complete lack of knowledge of the ‘historical significance and irony’!!!

This choice of fabric, coupled with the style of chair being “Irish’ … makes these chairs a ‘REAL CONVERSATION’ pair of pieces, as well as being extremely decorative, comfortable and useful Library chairs!

Imagine inviting your “Irish’ friends over, for a whiskey and having them sit on these chairs. Then telling them, that they having been sitting on Oliver Cromwell’s Coat of Arms! After their initial reaction, you can then ‘lessen’ the perceived indignity, by pointing out to them, that they have been resting their ‘posteriors’ on his symbol!! We told you, we had a ‘twisted’ sense of humor!! LOL

We simply could not resist getting them!
They are both in great condition, with no tears to the fabric and little damage or fading through normal wear and tear and age.

They have both been professionally cleaned.

Provenance: From a Dallas Estate

Condition: Very Good original condition (see full listing).

Dimensions: Each Chair is:

44.5 inches Tall, 34 inches Deep and 32 inches Wide

Seat Height is 19.5 inches; Seat Cushion is 26.5 inches wide at front.

Depth of seat Cushion is 22 inches; Armrests are 26.5 inches tall from the floor