A set of six 19th century mahogany dining chairs
Auction: 25 March 2009 at 11:00 GMT
Description
each with tablet top-rail on square supports above a caned back between quartered fan corner pieces, the drop-in seats formerly caned, on turned tapering legs headed by reeded capitals and roundels, maked in pencil 'Morel' verso (6)
Footnote
Note: 'Morel'. The Ambrose Heal book on London cabinet makers has the various dates and names of Morel's businesses.
The old upholstered drop in seats have satin birch frames, one (the pink one I think) is inscribed 'Lady Duckworth King, 16 Culford Mews' [London].
Lady Duckworth-King, was Barbara Madelen Jean Scott-Makdougall (1894-1979) before her marriage to Sir George Duckworth King, 6th Baron or Baronet (1891-1952) in 1915. See 'Burke's Landed Gentry of Great Britain- The Kingdom in Scotland' 19th edition, 2001, Vol. 1, page 1197.
SCOTT MAKDOUGALL FAMILY- OLD/NEW GALA HOUSE (Galashiels) and MAKERSTOUN HOUSE, near Smailholm. In 1714 the house was rebuilt to designs by William Adam, father of Robert Adam, and was enlarged again in 1812 by Archibald Elliot, who turned the house into a Victorian mansion. Sadly Makerstoun was burnt down again in 1970, however the current family rebuilt Makerstoun to the original plans of William Adam, with work complete in 1973.
Her father was Hugh James Elibank Scott- Makdougall of the title 'Scott of Gala' - (see Burke's Landed Gentry of Scotland).
Old Gala House is still in Galashiels and is a museum/craft centre. The Scott family owned Old Gala House from around 1500 to 1877. In 1900 one of them (the father of Lady Duckworth King) took on the additional name of Makdougall as he succeed one of them ( the woman named in the next sentence) in 1890. The Makdougalls came from Makerstoun House. 'Burkes Landed Gentry of Scotland' states that a John Makdougall H.E.I.C.S. (Honourable East India Company Service?), but his older brother had KCB and was in the navy) died in 1822 and his eldest daughter Maria Scott Makdougall 'Became of Makerstoun, Roxburgh' , indicating that the two families- the Scotts and Makdougalls were connected since the time the chairs would have been made.
New Gala House was designed by David Bryce and was built around 1877. It was demolished in 1987.
The other house connected with the Makdougall family is Makerstoun House, near Kelso. This house is now owned by Lord Biddulph. The Makdougalls (later known as the Scott Makdougalls from 1890) were at Makerstoun until 1920 when the estate was sold. Makerstoun House is now owned by Lord Biddulph.
In the late 1940s-50s, after her husband's death, Lady Duckworth-King sold some properties at Sotheby's. On 1 July 1955, 'a small collection of regency furniture, belonging to Barbara, Lady Duckworth- King, included a set of four torcheres ( each 4ft. high) from designs by Thomas Hope, which went to Messrs. Blairman for L270, and Mr S. Patch gave L240 for a Kingwood writing table ( 46in.wide), with carved giltwood trestle support terminating in paw feet' ( the Times Jul 2 1955 page 8), column f). Sales including furniture from Lady D-K were also at Sothebys on 27 June 1958, July 8 1958- 7 plates in catalogue ( both advertised in 'The Times').
These chairs, with their satin birch framed drop in seats are likely to have come from Lady Duckworth- King's (Scottish) side of the family.
These chairs were given to Lady Duckworth King's nurse/companion Marguerite JOY, who died 1983 aged 87, who was one of her Trustees.
A chair with some similarities was in the Sotheby's Great Tew Park sale 27-29 May 1987, lot 145
The chairs have design elments suggesting the influences Trotter, Gillows or George Bullock.
Cf : also, a set in the Christies sale at Parham Park, Pulborough, West Sussex, 13 & 14 May 1996 with similar 'Carlton House' 'tassels' to the top of the legs, which were catalogued as 'Scottish William IV'- See following email for these photographs.
ARCHIVE RESEARCH
The records for Makerstoun and Old and New Gala house(s) are in the same collection in the National Archives of Scotland at Registry House- the 'Scott of Gala' papers ( GD 477) This collection includes the Makdougall of Makerstoun papers (GD402).There are several inventories of furniture from the early 19th century onwards:
GD477/208 'Inventory of furniture in Gala House 14 Sept 1830'
Dining room- 14 chairs and 2 arm chairs
also mention of '7 drawing room chairs'
GD 477/208 item 5 'Inventory of Furniture in Gala House, Taken 4 & 11 Oct 1836'
New Lobby '2 of the 14 old Dining Room Mahogany Chairs'
Red Room '6 single mahog. chairs
1 arm Do Gray'
Dining Room '2 armchairs
10 Small DO'
Dressing Room '1 old Dining Room Mahogany Chair'
1 DO DO Common'
GD477/464 Letter Hugh Scott of Gala to Mrs Craig' Item 11 May 1816 ' Mr Scott of Gala with furniture & to be at Gala on the 10th'
'I send out all my personal property- the first Detachment arrives with this note. Where it is to be put God knows- the furniture tables chairs &C may be put in the Dining Room- the coarser things into the Laundry- the wine- I'll be hanged if I know. I shall be out on the 10th- I hope more rent is forthcoming Yours Scott' [Scott returning from his house in Edinburgh?]
GD477/2 'Inventory of furniture etc in Gala House June 1871'
page 30 Dining Room '10 Mahogany chairs in hair cloth'
'2 Do arm Do 1 arm broken 1 loose, haircloth holed and stained'
GD477/250 'Inventory of contents of Makerstoun house circa 1914'
only lists china silver and plate, glass, linen, etc.
GD477/228/1 'Inventory of Gala House furniture & C for Mr Plummer [26 April]1811'
Parlour ' 16 Mahogany hair bottom chairs w/ bronze[?] nails