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Royal House Antiques
Tel07850890032Please quote Antiques Atlas.
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Non UK callers :
+44 7850890032
Victorian Cornelius V Smith Captain's Armchair
We are delighted to offer for sale this museum quality, fully restored, hand dyed Cigar Brown leather Cornelius V Smith, Walnut & Satinwood captain's or directors armchair
Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.
This chair is a good looking and well made original Victorian example, circa 1885, the frame is Walnut with Satinwood and Boxwood inlay, the leather is period, the seat platform is webbed and coil sprung, the chair rotates, this is one of the first swivel armchair models ever made so its quite privative by todays standards but in the Victorian era this was quite a novelty
Condition wise, as mentioned this chair has been restored from the ground up, the leather upholstery has been washed back, hand dyed six times, antiqued, sealed waxed down and polish, tall the wood work has been deep cleaned and lightly French polished
The base is stamped four times on each leg CVS for CORNELIUS V SMITH, below is a brief history of the great man and some of his work
Dimensions:
Height:- 92cm
Width:- 55cm
Depth:- 60cm
Seat height:- 47cm
Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask.
Smith, Cornelius V.
London wholesale cabinet maker, upholsterer and frame maker (fl.1885-1891)
Cornelius Smith was born in 1847 in Mile End, his father, George, a wine merchant.
By 1885 is was recorded with showrooms and an upholstery workshop in Marshall’s Yard, Henry Street (sometimes Seaton Street), Hampstead Road and a frame making workshop in Charles Place, Drummond Street. He had the telegraphic address of ‘Cornelius, London’ [The Furniture Gazette, 1 December 1885]. When the lease on the Marshall Yard workshop expired in 1886 he moved to larger and more convenient premises at 64 Osnaburgh Street, with the entrance in Wybert Street, Munster Square, close to Portland Road Metropolitan Railway Station [The Furniture Gazette, 1 October 1886]. From 1887-9 his address was recorded as Vincent Works, 64 Osnaburgh Street and Wybert Street, Munster Square, London.
Smith advertised in The Furniture Gazette from1 March 1886-1 March 1889, with some advertisements illustrated. One such article, published on 15 April 1891, described Smith as ‘the well known upholsterering manufacturer and art furniture maker, [who] in person is of middle height. He is a thorough man of business, and has a very pleasant manner. He has built up a reputation of which any man might be proud, and his business is one of the largest in the trade. His manager, Mr. T. E. Green, is equally well-known for his business tact and geniality of manner’.
Smith’s specialised in stuffed-over chairs & couches, made with the use of every contemporary devise and of comfort, convenience and elegance. For example the 'Iddesleigh' settee, named after the Earl of Iddesleigh (late Sir Stafford Northcote), which was spring-stuffed, in saddle bags and covered in Utrecht or Genoa velvet. Another novelty was the 'Newlands' suite, the frames of mahogany or rosewood inlaid with suitable ornament, covered in fashionable silk velvet. Among the range of fancy chairs was the 'Minnie Palmer' with an elegant light frame inlaid with marquetry the 'Irving' chair made in inlaid mahogany the 'Mexican' lounge (settee) and the 'Randolph' corner chair. Smith’s workmanship and finish was highly praised [The Furniture Gazette, 1 August 1885 editorial and advertisement].
The Furniture Gazette, 1 February 1887, described the Osnaburgh premises, which had a depth of 250 ft. The front showroom displayed every type of cabinet made of walnut, rosewood or other choice woods, and inlaid with marquetry. Behind the showroom were the general counting office and the offices of Mr Smith and the manager. Then the individual workshops for cabinet makers, fitters, upholsterers, women sewers and French polishers.
There were storerooms on the ground floor and upstairs more workshops. The main showroom displayed drawing and dining room suites, fancy chairs, stuffed-over goods, lounging and patent spring easy chairs, and fancy card and five o’clock tea tables.
In adjoining buildings were the packing premises and time-keeper’s office. The 'Oscar' suite of armchairs and settee was illustrated in The Furniture Gazette, 1 February 1889, as was Smith’s patent ottoman box couch & its frame described and illustrated in The Furniture Gazette, 15 November 1891. At this date the price of an upholstered chair from Smith’s ranged from 25s to £5.
By 1891 Smith permanently employed over 150 at his works, which operated entirely on a wholesale basis. The census of that year described him as a widower and manufacturing upholsterer, aged 44, living at 18 Highbury Gove, Islington. He was still there in 1901 and died in Islington in 1917.
Any questions please feel free to ask. Payments
We accept payment via Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, Ethereum, Bacs, Chaps, PayPal or Card, we would kindly ask that all items are paid for within 48 hours and collected within 7 working days, we can hold all paid items for 14 days free of charge, there after a £20 a week storage fee will apply. We have long term storage which is very economically priced, we are happy to hold stock for as long as needed providing it is arranged prior to the purchase.
If sold items aren’t collected within three months and no arrangements have been made for long term storage you will forfeit the item and payment.
SellerRoyal House Antiques
View all stock from
Royal House Antiques
Private dealer, online
By appointment only
Wimbledon
London
Tel : 07850890032
Non UK callers : +44 7850890032
Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price.
This chair is a good looking and well made original Victorian example, circa 1885, the frame is Walnut with Satinwood and Boxwood inlay, the leather is period, the seat platform is webbed and coil sprung, the chair rotates, this is one of the first swivel armchair models ever made so its quite privative by todays standards but in the Victorian era this was quite a novelty
Condition wise, as mentioned this chair has been restored from the ground up, the leather upholstery has been washed back, hand dyed six times, antiqued, sealed waxed down and polish, tall the wood work has been deep cleaned and lightly French polished
The base is stamped four times on each leg CVS for CORNELIUS V SMITH, below is a brief history of the great man and some of his work
Dimensions:
Height:- 92cm
Width:- 55cm
Depth:- 60cm
Seat height:- 47cm
Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask.
Smith, Cornelius V.
London wholesale cabinet maker, upholsterer and frame maker (fl.1885-1891)
Cornelius Smith was born in 1847 in Mile End, his father, George, a wine merchant.
By 1885 is was recorded with showrooms and an upholstery workshop in Marshall’s Yard, Henry Street (sometimes Seaton Street), Hampstead Road and a frame making workshop in Charles Place, Drummond Street. He had the telegraphic address of ‘Cornelius, London’ [The Furniture Gazette, 1 December 1885]. When the lease on the Marshall Yard workshop expired in 1886 he moved to larger and more convenient premises at 64 Osnaburgh Street, with the entrance in Wybert Street, Munster Square, close to Portland Road Metropolitan Railway Station [The Furniture Gazette, 1 October 1886]. From 1887-9 his address was recorded as Vincent Works, 64 Osnaburgh Street and Wybert Street, Munster Square, London.
Smith advertised in The Furniture Gazette from1 March 1886-1 March 1889, with some advertisements illustrated. One such article, published on 15 April 1891, described Smith as ‘the well known upholsterering manufacturer and art furniture maker, [who] in person is of middle height. He is a thorough man of business, and has a very pleasant manner. He has built up a reputation of which any man might be proud, and his business is one of the largest in the trade. His manager, Mr. T. E. Green, is equally well-known for his business tact and geniality of manner’.
Smith’s specialised in stuffed-over chairs & couches, made with the use of every contemporary devise and of comfort, convenience and elegance. For example the 'Iddesleigh' settee, named after the Earl of Iddesleigh (late Sir Stafford Northcote), which was spring-stuffed, in saddle bags and covered in Utrecht or Genoa velvet. Another novelty was the 'Newlands' suite, the frames of mahogany or rosewood inlaid with suitable ornament, covered in fashionable silk velvet. Among the range of fancy chairs was the 'Minnie Palmer' with an elegant light frame inlaid with marquetry the 'Irving' chair made in inlaid mahogany the 'Mexican' lounge (settee) and the 'Randolph' corner chair. Smith’s workmanship and finish was highly praised [The Furniture Gazette, 1 August 1885 editorial and advertisement].
The Furniture Gazette, 1 February 1887, described the Osnaburgh premises, which had a depth of 250 ft. The front showroom displayed every type of cabinet made of walnut, rosewood or other choice woods, and inlaid with marquetry. Behind the showroom were the general counting office and the offices of Mr Smith and the manager. Then the individual workshops for cabinet makers, fitters, upholsterers, women sewers and French polishers.
There were storerooms on the ground floor and upstairs more workshops. The main showroom displayed drawing and dining room suites, fancy chairs, stuffed-over goods, lounging and patent spring easy chairs, and fancy card and five o’clock tea tables.
In adjoining buildings were the packing premises and time-keeper’s office. The 'Oscar' suite of armchairs and settee was illustrated in The Furniture Gazette, 1 February 1889, as was Smith’s patent ottoman box couch & its frame described and illustrated in The Furniture Gazette, 15 November 1891. At this date the price of an upholstered chair from Smith’s ranged from 25s to £5.
By 1891 Smith permanently employed over 150 at his works, which operated entirely on a wholesale basis. The census of that year described him as a widower and manufacturing upholsterer, aged 44, living at 18 Highbury Gove, Islington. He was still there in 1901 and died in Islington in 1917.
Any questions please feel free to ask. Payments
We accept payment via Bitcoin, Bitcoin cash, Ethereum, Bacs, Chaps, PayPal or Card, we would kindly ask that all items are paid for within 48 hours and collected within 7 working days, we can hold all paid items for 14 days free of charge, there after a £20 a week storage fee will apply. We have long term storage which is very economically priced, we are happy to hold stock for as long as needed providing it is arranged prior to the purchase.
If sold items aren’t collected within three months and no arrangements have been made for long term storage you will forfeit the item and payment.
Price
Arrange a final price and delivery details directly with the dealer
Click here to message the seller
The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 4/DEC/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Category Antique Furniture
> Antique Armchairs
Date 1885
Late Victorian Antiques Material Leather
Origin English
Item code as968a3232
Status For Sale
£2850.00 
$3811.31
€3264.96
$3811.31
€3264.96
Looking to Buy?
Payment with PayPal is availableArrange a final price and delivery details directly with the dealer
Click here to message the seller
Conversion rates as of 4/DEC/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer.
Shipping information
DELIVERY AND COLLECTION
For an accurate delivery quote please contact us with your postcode and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on size and distance. If you would like more than one piece of furniture we offer a substantial discount on the second and third item.
For international shipping please contact us with your full address for an accurate delivery quote and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on the size on location.
COURIER (LARGE ITEMS ONLY THAT CAN’T BE POSTED)
We prefer collection on all items from Wimbledon SW19-3BE, If you have your own courier or wish to book the collection in yourself we are happy to accommodate you.
We can arrange delivery nationwide, please confirm the delivery amount before you buy and not after.
Whoever delivers will usually require some help on the larger items to unload, if this is not possible please let us know as it will affect the price to send a two man team.
Delivery is to the ground floor only, again if you need help upstairs or in flats etc that's absolutely not a problem, the couriers charge £10 per flight per man per item, if you have a working elevator then naturally there’s no additional fee.
I’m happy to accommodate your own courier after a cleared payment has been received, they need to book in a collection time with at least 24 hours notice, all collections must be made within 7 working days of the close of the auction unless agreed by prior arrangement.
For an accurate delivery quote please contact us with your postcode and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on size and distance. If you would like more than one piece of furniture we offer a substantial discount on the second and third item.
For international shipping please contact us with your full address for an accurate delivery quote and be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on the size on location.
COURIER (LARGE ITEMS ONLY THAT CAN’T BE POSTED)
We prefer collection on all items from Wimbledon SW19-3BE, If you have your own courier or wish to book the collection in yourself we are happy to accommodate you.
We can arrange delivery nationwide, please confirm the delivery amount before you buy and not after.
Whoever delivers will usually require some help on the larger items to unload, if this is not possible please let us know as it will affect the price to send a two man team.
Delivery is to the ground floor only, again if you need help upstairs or in flats etc that's absolutely not a problem, the couriers charge £10 per flight per man per item, if you have a working elevator then naturally there’s no additional fee.
I’m happy to accommodate your own courier after a cleared payment has been received, they need to book in a collection time with at least 24 hours notice, all collections must be made within 7 working days of the close of the auction unless agreed by prior arrangement.
Terms and conditions
CONDITION
Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition
Please also ask any questions before you buy and not after, all of our items are sold as seen and as listed.
Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description around condition
Please also ask any questions before you buy and not after, all of our items are sold as seen and as listed.
View all stock from
Royal House Antiques
Private dealer, onlineBy appointment only
Wimbledon
London
Tel : 07850890032
Non UK callers : +44 7850890032
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Regency Original Painted & Decorated Antique Chair
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