Doe and Hope

Description

The late nineteenth century carved and ebonised framed settee having shaped rosette ends and ring turned legs on brass casters and more recently upholstered by “The Association of Master Upholsters Soft Furnishing.” in grey green fish scale all over patterned cotton brocade with scarlet flecks.

The settee is in superb condition both structurally and aesthetically, and proves firm and comfortable. The upholstery is of good quality and is relatively recent, and The Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers, founded in 1947, is one of the UK's oldest Furniture Trade Associations. Every member that displays this logo has earned the right to do so and the work of members is checked periodically and their suitability for membership scrutinised.

The aesthetic movement can be seen as the bridge to the arts and crafts style. It often had formalised, restrained ornamentation, and was heavily influenced by Japanese decoration, knowledge of which flowed to the West in the nineteenth century through oriental imports. It rebelled against the lavish ornamentation and over-embellishment of the high Victorian period, and sought a purer, more precise level of expression. Imitating Japanese lacquer, Victorian furniture was sometimes stained to make the wood black like ebony. The Aesthetic Movement at this precise period was part of this style.

Understated elegance for those with style.