British Furniture & Works of Art: Part IV 97
266 HE44/2 VICTORIAN MAHOGANY AND BIRCH ASTRONOMER’S CHAIR
19TH CENTURY the reclined back and low seat on trestle leg supports, the leg bearing a pressed metal label ‘W. CALLAGHAN, 23A NEW BOND STREET, REGISTERED JANUARY 15 1872’ 34cm wide, 75cm high, 39cm deep Provenance: Private collection, purchased Christie’s, 27 September 2007, lot 305
Note: William Callaghan was an optician working in London in the second half of the 19th century who specialised in telescopes, barometers and other scientific instruments. It is thought these chairs were produced to be used with Callaghan’s telescopes. There is some speculation that the label refers to the patent registration of designs for school furniture, rather than the registration of the design for this model. Whether the company made the furniture they designed is unknown. It is possible that production was sub-contracted, given the specialised technicalities of steam-bending wood. Another example bearing a Callaghan trade label, but with a patent registration date of 1873, is in the collection of the Victorian and Albert Museum.
£800-1,200
267 SV888/7 FRENCH ORRERY, IN THE MANNER OF CHARLES-FRANCOIS DELAMARCHE EARLY 19TH CENTURY the central gilded globe within radiating printed paper-covered rings, raised on an ebonised stand 52cm high £400-600
268 SV888/6 FRENCH ARMILLARY SPHERE, IN THE MANNER OF CHARLES-FRANCOIS DELAMARCHE
EARLY 19TH CENTURY the central terrestrial globe with two brass arms for sun and moon discs, printed papercovered horizon ring, raised on an ebonised stand 49cm high £400-600
269 SV888/5 FRENCH CELESTIAL GLOBE, IN THE MANNER OF CHARLES-FRANCOIS DELAMARCHE
19TH CENTURY the central printed paper-covered globe raised on an ebonised stand, 52cm high; also a later TERRESTIAL GLOBE, 19cm diameter (2) £400-600