A Victorian oak horseshoe back chair, by Holland & Sons, third quarter 19th century

A Victorian oak horseshoe back chair, by Holland &
Sons, third quarter 19th century, upholstered in a brown silk, on turned front legs to castors, stamped Holland & Son to back left leg and Cope & Collinson patent to both front castors.

Footnote:Note: Holland and Sons rose from their origins in the early 19th century to become, by the middle years of the century, a rival to Gillows and one of the greatest English furniture producers (they also worked successfully as undertakers and were responsible for the Duke of Wellington's funeral). Under William Holland the firm became cabinetmakers and upholsterers to the Queen, their first commission being for Osborne House in 1845, supplying furniture in the Queen's favoured Louis XVI style. They continued to supply furniture for Osborne until 1869 but gained further commissions for Windsor Castle, Balmoral and Marlborough House. Holland also worked for many leading institutions including the Reform and Athenaeum Clubs, the British Museum and the Royal Academy. Along with Gillows they shared the commission for the new Houses of Parliament. They participated in many of the important International Exhibitions including London in 1862, Paris in 1867 and 1872, and Vienna in 1873. The Holland's labelled day books are now housed in the National Archive of Art and Design in London and present a virtual 'who's who' of 19th century society.