A fine and rare cast-iron seat in the Horse Chestnut pattern by the Coalbrookdale Company, marked “Coalbrookdale” and stamped with diamond registration marks, the back and side supports of the seat ornamented with a frieze of rinceaux comprised of horse chestnut branches, leaves, and nuts, the frieze framed by coiled ribbons and topped with a chestnut-leaf crest, and with wooden slatted seat, English (Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire), ca. 1870.

The Coalbrookdale Company, founded in 1709, began producing ornamental ironwares in 1810, including seating furniture, fountains, sculpture, flower stands, and urns. By 1846, at the height of its success, the company was the leading cast-iron maker in the world. The vast production of the Coalbrookdale Company was noted by countless American cast-iron foundries, including J. W. Fiske Iron Works, J. L. Mott Iron Works and Wood & Perot, who freely copied designs Coalbrookdale had registered in England.

The Horse Chestnut pattern, number 217568, was registered and patented at the Public Records Office by Coalbrookdale on the 23rd of March 1868 and is seat number 46 in their 1875 catalog. See The Coalbrookdale Company’s 1875 illustrated catalog, section III, page 256.

72.8 ins. long, 39.5 ins high., 25 ins. deep.