Circa 1890
In Gothic Revival style, the padded square back with a shaped and carved crest centred on the Stock Exchange cipher flanked by the fleur-de-lis finials of the upright supports above the open arms and moulded seat, on turned front supports and sled feet, the back of the chair with an integral clerk's desk with sloping top above a pair of frieze drawers raised on columnar supports
125cm high, 61cm wide, 94cm deep
Estimate $10,000 - $14,000
J.B. Were & Son, Melbourne, Stockbrokers, acquired upon the retirement and dispersal of the Main Call Room chairs in 1962
Acquired from the above (as Goldman Sachs JBWere) by the vendor, circa 2008
Installed for use as one of the members' chairs in the Main Call Room of the former Melbourne Stock Exchange in Collins Street upon its completion in 1891 (now part of the 'Gothic Bank'), remaining in use there until 1961.
Former Melbourne Stock Exchange members' chairs of the standard design – of the same design as the present lot but without the clerk's desk to back – appear reasonably regularly at auction but those with integral desk are much rarer, none having been offered, apparently, since the last sold by Leonard Joel in 2008 (European and Australian Decorative Arts and Antiques, Melbourne, 26 August 2008, lot 757, $18,000).
Decorative Arts
AUCTION
Sale: LJ8826
6:00pm - 16 November 2026
Hawthorn
VIEWING
Fri 13 - Sun 15 November, 11am - 5pm
2 Oxley Rd, Hawthorn VIC
CONTACT
Chiara Curcio
decorativearts@leonardjoel.com.au
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