Accession Number

2003.007.001.002

Description

The oak frame with upholstered leather seat and back, the backs of the arms attached to outside of the wooden frame, a single relief carving of seven elongated petals decorating the top of each arm close to the back, the hand rest a large scroll with five sets of repeating carved two leaves (11.5cm), the arms are 52.3cmL X 4cmH, the tops of the legs joined to the corners on the bottom of the seat frame, the legs 40cmH and decorating the top of each of leg front an annulated knob, the centre section a plain turned taper, the bottom section decorated with two annular knobs, inserted into the base of each front leg is a single metal castor 2.5cm dia, the back legs plain and splayed outwards, the back of the chair in two sections, the top section (32cmH X 51.7cmL) padded and covered with leather secured around the edges with small sunflower-shaped brass upholstery tacks, the bottom horizontal section (27cmH) of the seatback a horizontal carved relief of scrolling elongated acanthus leaves (9.2cmH X 24.3L X 4W), the seat padded (54.5cmW X 66.4cmL X 8cmH) and covered in leather tacked down (70 in total) along all the sides.

Narrative

This is one of six dining chairs in the Castle collection used by the Dunsmuir family in Craigdarroch. Eight additional chairs have not been located, but they have been reproduced by The Castle Society for display purposes.

History of Use

This table and matching chairs were purchased new in 1890 for Craigdarroch, the home of Robert and Joan Dunsmuir located in Victoria, B.C. After the death of Joan Dunsmuir in 1908, her daughters directed H. W. Davies to conduct an estate auction at Craigdarroch in June, 1909. At this time, the table and chairs were sold as lot #119 and lot #120 to Henry Siebenbaum, of Port Townsend, Washington. In 1893 he and his family moved to Victoria where he owned a saloon. They placed the table and chairs in their home at 1109 Catherine Street in Victoria West. The furniture remained with Siebenbaum until his death in 1942 when it was transferred to his brother. Later the table and chairs were given to Henry Siebenbaum's great-nephew, John Buhler, who stills lives in Port Townsend. The Buhler's sold the furniture to The Castle Society.

Date

circa 1890

Dimensions

97.5 x 58.5 x 67.5 cm

Material

Wood, oak; Leather; Metal, brass; Metal, bronze

Technique

Machined; Carved