A Rare Dated 18th Century Irish Mahogany Desk Chair

A rare and possibly unique 18th century Irish Corner Chair of superb colour with glowing burnished surface. The chair is wonderfully carved with typical Irish flair. The top rail dated1740 to the centre and flanked with seaweed, the edges carved with scrolling marine plants. the arm fabulously shaped and further carved with sea plants, probably Kelp are supported by three turned columns and splats also carved with what appears to be sea plants. The drop in seat and lunette carved serpentine seat rails sit above a wonderful and extravagantly shaped centre leg with shell carved to the knee. The three further straight legs having applied pieces to the base to form the trefid feet, some of these pieces are now old replacements. This historically interesting chair with a real connection to the ocean is particularly well drawn and of large proportions, it is fascinating to note the carved sea flora on this piece, it is a feature we have seen before on Irish furniture, the dramatic sweep of the middle leg and the deeply carved hollows terminating in trefit foot are features strongly connected with Ireland and documented in the wonderful Book, Irish Furniture by the Knight of Glin. The chair belonged to Captain Drummond of the ill fated Sv Viscata, which ran aground on the 7th of March 1868 and the chair was thought to be in his family before that.