Set of 6 Late 19th-century Mahogany Chippendale Revival Ladderback Dining Chairs with Leather Seats, c.1870–1890 (Victorian)

Set of Six Late 19th-Century Mahogany Chippendale Revival Ladderback Dining Chairs, c.1870–1890 A very attractive set of six late 19th-century mahogany dining chairs in the Chippendale revival taste, dating from circa 1870–1890. Each chair is of classic ladderback form, with a gently swept top rail above a series of shaped, wavy slats incorporating delicate pierced details, framed by slightly raked rear uprights. The design is well judged and elegant, closely informed by 18th-century Chippendale models while retaining the strength and comfort expected of later Victorian dining furniture. The chairs are constructed from solid mahogany of good colour and tone and stand on square-section legs united by H-stretchers, giving the set a reassuringly solid and stable feel. The proportions are particularly pleasing, with a comfortable seat height and generous stance, making them well suited for regular dining use as well as more refined interior settings. The seats are upholstered in leather which appears to have significant age and is entirely consistent with the chairs. While it is not possible to state definitively whether the leather is original to the frames, it is likely early and may date to around the turn of the 20th century. Both the upholstery structure and the leather covers are in good, usable condition, presenting with an attractive, mellowed surface and remaining entirely serviceable. The surfaces have been sympathetically refreshed: a later, heavy polish was carefully removed using meths to avoid raising the grain, and the frames were subsequently stained and waxed, retaining as much original surface character as possible. Some traces of earlier polish remain within the grain, as expected with this method, contributing to the chairs’ warm and settled appearance. As a set, the chairs display small but noticeable variations in the shaping and detailing of the ladder backs, typical of period workshop production rather than later factory-made uniformity. These subtle differences add individuality and character without detracting from the overall harmony of the set. A full set of additional images is available on request.