Lot 30
FINE GEORGE II CARVED MAHOGANY LIBRARY ARMCHAIR
CIRCA 1755
Auction: 26 March 2013 at 11:00 GMT
Description
the arched back and serpentine seat flanked by outscrolling arms with foliate and shell carved terminals, over a lattice carved apron centred by a ruffled shell and foliate scrolls, raised on shell and foliate carved cabriole legs ending in scrolled toes, in later green and yellow floral silk upholstery
Dimensions
68cm wide, 92cm high, 51cm deep
Footnote
Note: The inspiration for this elegant armchair is undoubtedly taken from French fashion of the period as interpreted by a mid 18th-century cabinet maker. Thomas Chippendale illustrated several examples of 'French' chairs in his 'Gentleman and Cabinet Makers Director published in 1754, and other important cabinet makers of the St. Martin's Lane Academy worked in this style. The pattern of this chair, with its incised trellis ground, enjoyed considerable popularity in the mid 18th century, making identifying the specific maker a bit of a mystery. The chair is very similar to the well-known suite of seat furniture previously in the collection of Sir John Ward, K.C.V.O of Dudley House. Helena Hayward, the furniture historian, in her 1964 Conoisseur article described the Dudley House suite saying "it would be no exaggeration to claim that no finer example of its period is now known to exist". Several top London cabinet makers have been put forward as the likely makers of these chairs, including William Bradshaw of Greek Street, Soho, or his partner Paul Saunders who supplied related suites to Hagely Hall Worcestershire and Petworth, Sussex. Other potential candidates include James Whittle, Snr and Samuel Norman of St. Andrew's Street Soho, as well as William Vile and John Cobb of St Martin's Lane who supplied related cabriole legged chairs, John Chute at the Vyne, Hampshire and the Hon. John Damer of Came House, Dorset. A pair of similar chairs sold Christie's New York, 11 June 2010, lot 428.