Morant & Co. Furniture

This is an early 20th century interpretation of an armchair inspired by the infamous, sumptuously, upholstered, 17th century, couch with hinged arm rests, found at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, Kent, the ancestral seat of the Sackvilles made by the most eminent upholsterer of the early 20th century. The original couch served the dual purpose of bed and settee, and is one of the earliest examples of English, upholstered, seat furniture. This is a particularly fine example, with a Morant & Co provenance. A matching 3-settee is also available The inside and outside back, wings, seat and cushion are upholstered in green strie velvet and trimmed in the traditional manner with matching braid and fringe. The strie velvet could be original, if this armchair has been lightly used, as there is significant fading from the original bright green. The adjustable padded wings are joined to the arms with original ratched iron hinges which are attached to the back. The arms are supported by oak turned uprights. The seat has a large loose cushion. Standing on original castors. English, circa 1900. Bearing the fabric retail label of Morant & Co Upholsterers, Decorators. 91 New Bond St., London. with Royal Coat of Arms, dated 1825, 1831, 1837 & 1890, founded 1790. During the late 16th-early 17th century a new form of day-bed was introduced to match the contemporary upholstered ‘X’ chairs and stools. They were padded and upholstered throughout and the ends were let down on a toothed steel ratchet to enable the occupant to repose at full length. They were generally destroyed when the coverings had worn out at the woodwork was of little value. Similar couches were plentiful in France under Louis XIII and can be seen in Abraham Bosse’s engravings of domestic interiors but they were only found at Court and the houses of great noblemen in this country. When the contents of the Royal Palaces were dispersed after Charles I’s execution a number of couches were included in the sale. Morant & Co (fl.1885-1915) The dictionary of English furniture makers 1660-1840, published by the Furniture History Society informs that Morant Snr. was a maker of carved and gilded frames from early in the reign of George IVth, and his trade card describes the company as ‘Ornamental Painter and Paper Hanging Manufacturer to their Royal Highnesses’. Work was executed for Sir Thomas Lawrence, Sir Robert Peel...

This pelmet is exceptionally long. The Brussels tapestry is finely woven with fruits and trailing stems and the colours are not faded. It works as a hanging in its own right, but could also be adapted as a curtain or bed pelmet...