Chris: (and apologies for cross-posting on the lists)
There is a reading chair in the Library at Belton House, which always
attracts a lot of attention from visitors. It is probably late 18th
century - I can check later on its exact description. It has polished
wooden arms coming about two-thirds of the way round a circle (i.e. not
a padded back), and a book-rest on a sliding brass strip so that you can
have the book at any point on the circumference. The idea of this, we
tell visitors, is so that ladies could sit semi-side-saddle, rather than
astride as men would do, and still have the book in fromt of them.
Such chairs are also called "cockfighting chairs" from their use by
spectators of this "sport". I'm sure I have seen illustrations of such
chairs in use for this purpose - usually by excited young men with pipe
and glass in hand!
Shall I see you at the LHG on Thursday? I might be able to bring an
illustration of the Belton chair.
Regards
Peter
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Peter Hoare, 21 Oundle Drive, Wollaton Park, Nottingham NG8 1BN
Tel/fax 0115 978 5297 E-mail [log in to unmask]
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