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Foster 897

Record Id:

040-003271842

Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:

032-003271840

MDARK:

ark:/81055/vdc_100028181659.0x0008ce

LARK:

SLARK:

Format:

ISAD(G)

Reference (shelfmark):

Foster 897

Title:

Large armchair, legs carved with Indian masks and terminating in lion paw feet. Tall rounded back with EIC badge. The Chairman's seat when presiding over the Court of Proprietors (later the Saleroom) at East India House.

Scope & Content:

Tall-backed armchair, c.1730, legs carved with Indian masks and terminating in lion paw feet, the seat frame decorated with scallop shells and scrolling acanthus leaves, and the arm uprights ending in eagles’ heads. Tall rounded back, centre panel decorated with the East India Company crest.

Walnut with crimson velvet upholstery, embroidery in silks and silver gilt.

Literature: W. Foster, ‘A Descriptive Catalogue of the Paintings, Statues, &c., in the India Office’ (London, 1924), p.4; J. Hardy, ‘ India Office Furniture’, no.10; ‘Photographs of Furniture Exhibited at the Bethnal Green Museum in 1896,’ OIOC Photo 90/(2).

Made c.1730, the chair was originally the seat of the Chairman when presiding over the Court of Proprietors (afterwards the Sale Room) at East India House. Originally upholstered in red velvet, the seat and arms were re-covered in red morocco leather during the India Office period, without apparently refixing the lion crest. The seat appears to have been re-covered in velvet in 1902, when the embroidered crest was then added.

Collection Area:

Visual Arts

Project / Collection:

Directors Court Room
India Office Furniture

Hierarchy Record Ids:

032-003271840
040-003271842

Is part of:

Foster 896-897, Foster 905 : F896-897; F905 Three elaborately carved and uphostered armchairs, made c.1730 for the Courts of Directors and…

Foster 897 : Large armchair, legs carved with Indian masks and terminating in lion paw feet. Tall rounded back with EIC badge. The Chairman's seat…

Hierarchy:

032-003271840[0002]/040-003271842

Container:

View / search within Archive / Collection: Foster 896-897, Foster 905

Record Type (Level):

File

Extent:

1 Item

Digitised Content:

Languages:

Not applicable

Scripts:

Not applicable

Styles:

British school
European school

Start Date:

1729

End Date:

1731

Date Range:

c 1730

Era:

Access:

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Physical Characteristics:

Medium: wood, walnut; upholstery, velvet

Former Internal References:

F 897

Exhibitions:

National Jubilee Exhibition - VOC 1602-2002, Scheepvaartmuseum, Netherlands, March 2002 - October 2002

Material Type:

Artefacts

Legal Status:

Not Public Record(s)

Names:

East India Company, 1600-1858

Subjects:

East India Company
Furniture
Occupations
trade and commerce