A CHARLES II OAK ARMCHAIR

A CHARLES II OAK ARMCHAIR, circa 1670, of unusual form, the rectangular panelled back surmounted by a carved cresting, the crown flanked by "S"-scrolls, on spirally-turned uprights, with large out-scroll arms on spirally-turned supports over a solid seat, on a turned and squared underframe with a carved front stretcher composed of opposing "S"-scrolls and flowerheads, 30.25" wide across the arms Provenance: The back of the chair bears an old label signed by Richard Heape (?) of Healey Hall, 1916, which states: "This chair was bought in 1898 from John Booth, blacksmith, of Rochdale, who inherited it from his uncle about the year 1840. J. Booth told me his ancestors had long dwelt upon the spot and side and the tradition in 1840 was that the chair had been in the family's possession for 300 years"