Officer's Desk Chair

A mahogany portable Desk Library Chair with a caned back and seat.

The back is shaped to cushion the small of the sitter's back for greater comfort with the replaced canework following the rounded shape. The replaced, buttoned cushion to the seat is shaped to sit around the arm posts to prevent it moving.

To dismantle the chair, the arms are unbolted from the back and the seat frame. They are held by brass thumb bolts with locating tenons and mortice joints. The turned front legs are then unscrewed on their brass bolts and the seat frame can fold on its hinges. The whole of the back section remains as one and its length is increased by the folded seat frame. Although the length would be reduced if it folded the opposite way on its hinges, the width would increase due to the rounded section of the back preventing the seat folding flat. The arms can only fit to one side due to the position of the tenons so are not stamped with locating numbers etc. The same is true of the turned front legs which are interchangeable, but you might expect to be numbered.

Not many campaign Desk Chairs appear on the market and this example was made with strength in mind. The thickness of timber used is greater than you might expect on a domestic chair giving it a more solid appearance. The chair has a subdued elegance with thought given to its shape and good choice of timber without adding much by way of embellishment. Circa 1820.