An early 18th century, c1720, walnut veneered "Shepherds Crook" open armchair, with burr walnut veneered cartouch back over an oval drop-in seat raised on cabriole supports with simple carved "tongue" knee detail and pad feet.

A similar English walnut armchair dating to the 1720s was in the household inventory of Boynton House, Wiltshire, and was copied by Gillows of Lancaster throughout the 19th century.

Condition Report

The chair has been repaired and restored over the years. The arms are cracked at their joint of the back. The chair needs some work to make good but stands well

The chair has had many running repairs and the seat rails have been backfilled and painted brown to hide old woodworm damage and perhaps replacement timber. The top of the chair legs should form part of the seat rail at the front but I can not see them due to the paint. The seat rail shows signs of old woodworm and generally the rail is far too heavy this may be an indication of it being replaced.

The legs are bolstered at the top as they enter the seat rail with very clumsy blocks that are also painted brown.

The chair has signs of old woodworm flight holes.

The arms have had repairs to the junction of the arms and back. and one back leg has had its toe section replaced. The feet show signs of their original castors being fitted bit now the holes are filled flush.

The back has a fine crack that shows signs of some flexibility

The drop-in seat frame has been recently upholstered and I do not want to disturb this work. My feeling is that the frame is a replacement.

In short, the chair is basically period however it has been through the mill with running repairs rather than restoration over its lifetime.

I have tried to be comprehensive in my condition report and have sought to emphasize that this chair has been repaired and elements have possibly been replaced during its life