Late 18Thc Oak & Kilim Upholstered Armchair C.1770-90

The late eighteenth century armchair, with a high gently shaped back and enclosed arms, raised on slender tapering legs, upholstered in an early hand-woven kilim textile, the back and arms worked with geometric medallions and border motifs in muted ochres, indigo blues, umber and soft charcoal, the seat cushion and back finished in a later burgundy plum corduroy, the whole on pad feet and surviving from the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

The chair is in lovely country house condition making it hugely appealing with wear consistent with age and long use throughout. The kilim covering is heavily worn in places, with thinning, fading and areas of softness to the weave, all entirely commensurate with its age and adding to its character rather than detracting. The corduroy seat cushion shows surface wear. The timber frame remains structurally sound with some wobble to one arm and with wear to the legs and feet. Overall, a piece valued for its surface, texture and authenticity rather than perfection.

Armchairs of this form belong firmly to the late eighteenth century, their tall backs and enclosed arms designed for warmth and comfort within draughty interiors. The use of kilim textiles, flat-woven rugs traditionally produced across Anatolia, the Caucasus and parts of the Middle East, reflects a long history of European interiors incorporating imported or recycled textiles, often repurposed from floor coverings or wall hangings. Such chairs were frequently re-covered during their working lives, resulting in unique, one-off survivals where vernacular furniture and nomadic weaving intersect.

A rare and sleepy armchair, its appeal lying in its honest wear, striking silhouette and the rich, painterly surface of its kilim covering that sits comfortably in both country house and contemporary interiors, offering texture, history and an unmistakable sense of age.