J G Crace. A rare pair of Gothic Revival dining chairs probably designed for Abney Hall

A rare pair of Gothic Revival dining chairs by J.G.Crace probably designed for Abney Hall (last image see Jeremy Coopers Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors page 53 Illustration 114). The head rails with solid Ebony carved florets the outer ones differing to the central one and double chamfered details which are used at all the back rest joints and at every corner below the seats with a double detail to the ends beneath each side seat rail and to the squares at the lower front legs a particular detail that has an attractive and functional purpose with wonderfully chamfered birds beak end details that stop and start on the classic H stretcher where they meet leaving a slightly chunkier part of the oak again for better strength of the joints and continuing to the back legs where they meet with a superb kick out detail. Retaining their original finish. Circa 1857.