Large carved black bog oak throne chair with double-twist uprights, legs and stretcher, the back panel intricately carved with vine tendrils with grapes, birds and winged putti heads, surmounted by a crown; carved arms terminating in lions' heads; drop in seat and padded back insert. This chair was exhibited at the Great Exhibition, 1851, by the firm Curran & Sons of Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland. The chair was positioned on the north side of the transept, and was described as being amongst 'many elaborate specimens of furniture from the provinces, but few are distinguished for any thing beyond profusion of detail; the styles of decoration being mostly that of class we have termed natural, that is, with no definite idea, or of the Louis Quinze. Some good exceptions are a frame by A. Hold, Barnsley; a black oak chair by Collinson, Doncaster; and a bog-oak chair by Curran and Sons, Lisburn, Ireland' (from 'The Exhibition as a Lesson of Taste' in the 'Illustrated Catalogue', p.xiv). 'The Illustrated Exhibitor' (p.143), illustrated this chiar and described it as 'sculptured and perforated, from the antique, [it] was made by three poor working men, expressly for the Exhibition, of Irish black bog-oak, found in Montagh's Moss. This chair is a creditable performance, and merits distinction amongst the works of ornamental art. The exhibitors are Curran and Sons, Lisburn and Co., in the County of Antrim.' The original crimson silk velvet was manufactured by E. Jones, 3 St Andrew's Street, Dublin.