Circa 1880, Howard & Sons, Berners Street, Bridgewater Armchair (English).

Brass castors stamped 'Howard & Sons Ltd’., and back leg also stamped ‘Howard & Sons Ltd, Berners St’ together with a serial number 247382. 
 
CONDITION:
 
This chair has been later reupholstered, with its current fabric being in place for over 20-years. At the front left (as you look at it), the thread of the elephant is fraying. At the front right, above the leg, the thread at the seam has come unstitched slightly. This chair is in country house condition, with wear commensurate with age, and can be used as is (needs steam cleaning), or for a full reupholstery.
 
PROVENANCE:
 
This chair came from a prominent country house in Somerset.
 
HISTORY OF HOWARD & SONS:
 
Howard & Sons have been renowned for being one of the most sought after names in English furniture throughout the 19th and early 20th Century, and for good reason! Their chairs are the most comfortable you will sit in and has passed the test of time. They make chairs for actually sitting on, rather than those more delicate chairs that one simply perches on (hoping it will stay upright).

The company was started by in 1820 by John Howard who started this iconic name trading from 24 Leman Street, London as a cabinet maker. Having this background in making furniture enabled them to expand into upholstery, opening their first showroom / workshop in 1844 at 36 Red Lion Street. 

After four years they moved to the iconic address of Berners St, London as “Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and Decorator” under the name John Howard and Sons. The business was extremely successful at this location with workshops opening up at Tottenham St, Charlotte Mews and Fitzroy Square, with an expansion to a second Berners St building in 1853. By 1872 Howard and Sons where occupying 25, 26 and 27 Berners Street where they stayed until 1935, winning a Royal Warrant in 1901.