Lot 363
A set of twelve 19th century ebonised and gilt dining chairs
Auction: 23 March 2002 at 11:00 GMT
Description
with bronze mounts, including two carvers, each with dentilled cresting centred by a cast angel figure and frieze with applied stars above upholstered panel enclosed by panelled uprights with stud decoration, the open arms with upholstered and fringed armrests above stuffover seats, the shaped apron above turned blocked legs embellished with studs with wooden castors, side chairs to match (12)
Footnote
Provenance: by repute Fota House, Cork, Ireland.
This extremely idiosyncratic set of chairs has several obvious design sources but remains of unkown origin. They bear some resemblance to the Jacobethan designs of Richard Bridgens and George Smith, as well as the later more antiquarian designs of Henry Whittaker. There is also a strong neo-Classical influence in the bronze mounts which aligns them with the taste of Regency aesthetes such as William Beckford and particuarly Thomas Hope. These Empire features might also suggest a Continental and particularly Italian origin.