Antique English Victorian Mahogany Revolving Swivel Office Desk Arm Chair (Circa 1880)

A fine quality antique English Victorian desk chair, constructed from solid mahogany, incorporating a revolving mechanism, circa 1880, in excellent original condition. Summary: Item: Victorian Desk Chair Circa: 1880 Period: Victorian Provenance: England, UK Wood: Solid mahogany Elegant curved bar back Central pierced back splat Elegant shaped down swept arms Stunning quality “saddle shaped” seat Cleaned & serviced mechanism Cabriole mahogany legs Original steel castors Rotates 360 degrees Very comfortable Very sturdy Excellent quality Excellent original condition Stunning original patination & colour Free delivery to mainland England, Wales & southern Scotland* 14-day free UK returns policy Description: A fine quality antique English Victorian desk chair, constructed from solid mahogany, incorporating a revolving mechanism, circa 1880, in excellent original condition.  The Victorian office chair is designed with an elegant curved bar back, incorporating a decorative central pierced splat below, all of which is secured by the shaped arms.  The chair boasts a stunning quality “saddle shaped” seat, which is extremely comfortable to sit on.  The chair revolves 360 degrees (earlier Victorian office chairs were not designed to be height adjustable or tilt).  The chair stands on its original cabriole legs and terminates on its original steel castors (the castors are in good condition).  The Victorian desk chair is very comfortable to sit on and it has a fantastic colour and is in excellent overall condition. The Victorian swivel desk chair features a rich red-brown mahogany colour.  As its boasts the original polish, it has a fantastic colour and patination; this can only be achieved through age and years of care and cleaning it has received. This item would look superb in a variety of rooms in the home, especially the office or library as it so comfortable.  This item would certainly grace any home.  So don’t miss out on your chance to own a lovely piece of furniture. History of the Office Chair:  An office chair, or desk chair, is a type of chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. It is usually a swivel chair, with a set of wheels for mobility and adjustable height. Modern office chairs typically use a single, distinctive load bearing leg (often called a gas lift), which is positioned underneath the chair seat. Near the floor this leg spreads out into several smaller feet, which are often wheeled and called casters.  Before the nineteenth century, most of the global workforce was employed in agrarian labour—an “office chair” was only relevant for the wealthy, government officials and academics. In fact, Charles Darwin is the earliest known adopter of a proto-office chair, grafting wheels onto a normal chair in the 1840s so he could swivel between specimens. It goes without saying that this was a fairly uncommon use case.  Then came the railroad, the advent of manufacturing, and the Industrial Revolution. As the traditional model of labour was upended, more administrative workers were needed for logistical coordination and bookkeeping, and the concept of general and administrative workers was born. Businesses empowered by rail access in scaling and expanding to new markets employed more and more people—creating a cadre of middle managers.  This was the first time in history that productivity accrued on a mass scale from people sitting indoors. As white-collar workers became a crucial economic resource for the first time, their bosses began to recognize the value of making them comfortable.  The “Centripetal Office Chair”, designed by the inventor Thomas Warren and launched by the American Chair Company in 1851 at the Great Exhibition in London.  An example of this office chair now sits in the Brooklyn Museum. Office chairs were developed around the mid-19th century onwards, as more workers spent their shifts sitting at a desk, leading to the adoption of several features not found on other chairs.  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_chair    Source: https://www.branchfurniture.com/blogs/turn-key/the-history-of-the-modern-officechair#:~:text=Mid-1800s: Victorian Design,sits in the Brooklyn Museum    Source: https://penkethgroup.com/knowledge-centre/history-office-chair-really-invented/  Condition Report:A fine quality antique English Victorian desk chair, constructed from solid mahogany, incorporating a revolving mechanism, circa 1880, in excellent original condition.  Nominal old use marks to the leading edges of the chair frame and top rail, but nothing significant considering the age of the item.  The chair frame has been cleaned and French polished, to a professional standard, in our workshop; therefore, it boasts a stunning colour.  The revolving mechanism is in good working order, having also been cleaned and serviced. There is some play to the mechanism, but this is perfectly acceptable, and in line with the age of the chair.  The chair stands on its original legs and steel castors (the castors are in good condition).  There are no breaks to the back, arms or legs.  The chair is well constructed, solid in joint and ready to use. Dimensions:External Height = 82cm / 32¼” / 2ft 8¼” External Width (Arms) = 59.5cm / 23⅜” / 1ft 11⅜”External Depth = 53cm / 20⅞” / 1ft 8⅞”Seat Height = 45cm / 17¾” / 1ft 5¾” Seat Width (Between Arms) = 44cm / 17¼” / 1ft 5¼”Seat Depth = 46cm / 18⅛”/ 1ft 6⅛”Arm Height = 73cm / 28¾” / 2ft 4¾”Back Height (From Seat) = 39cm / 15⅜” / 1ft 3⅜” Terms & Conditions:Before purchasing this item, please ensure that you have read and agreed to our Terms & Conditions of Sale.  Furthermore, if you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms, we encourage you to contact us to discuss them in advance.