Charles I Joined Oak and Inlaid Settle

A rare and monumental joined oak and inlaid settle, of unusually heavy form and outstanding craftsmanship. The box seat is raised above four large panels carved with nulled decoration, the stiles and rails enriched with chequer-pattern inlay. The vast back rest is constructed with ten deeply recessed applied panels, each framed within massive mouldings and finely inlaid with holly and bog oak in stylised floral and foliate designs. The uprights are boldly carved with acanthus, while the upper and lower rails are decorated with S-scrolls and lunettes.
This settle represents one of the most ambitious survivals of Yorkshire joined furniture, its sheer weight of form and lavish decorative scheme suggesting commission for a household of the highest standing. The use of contrasting inlays in holly and bog oak, alongside deep recessed panels of such scale, is exceptionally rare — indeed, this appears to be the only known example of its type.
Condition: The surface has been restored in more recent times, leaving the finish less mellow than would originally have been the case, but this does not diminish the importance of the form or its rarity.