Remarkable Gainsborough Armchair, 18th Century

A very fine mahogany Gainsborough armchair of superb quality and large scale, attributable to Wright and Elwick. English, circa 1760.

Why we like it

We love the imposing scale of this iconic design from the mid-18th century, superbly handcrafted and beautifully reupholstered in Claremont silk damask.

Provenance

With a pre-1903 label underneath reading GEO TROLLOPE & SONS / BELGRAVE SQUARE, / LONDON, S.W. 

Attribution

This armchair relates to 'French Chair' designs in the George II picturesque manner illustrated in Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, London, 1754. The pattern relates closely to a suite of five library armchairs from Swinton in Yorkshire and now attributed to the Yorkshire cabinet-makers, Wright and Elwick, who were known to have worked for William Danby at Swinton in around 1775, and who were both subscribers to the first edition of the Director. The suite was sold by the Earl of Swinton and the Hon. Nicholas Cunliffe-Lister, from Swinton House, Masham, Yorkshire, in Christie's house sale, 20-21 October 1975, lot 17. 

Wright and Elwick

Established in 1747 by Richard Wright and Edward Elwick, this prolific partnership '[had] the honour to serve most of the Nobility & Gentry in the West and North Rideing' (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture-Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, pp. 1006-1008). Certainly, records indicate that they received patronage from such distinguished clients as Sir Rowland Winn at Nostell Priory, the Duke of Norfolk at Worksop Manor, Viscount Irwin at Temple Newsam House, John Spencer at Cannon Hall and most notably, the Marquess of Rockingham at Wentworth Woodhouse. 

A pair of virtually identical armchairs is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. An identical armchair was sold Christie's, London, Ronald Phillips Ltd - Making Room, 2 July 2014, Lot 69. 

The design also corresponds to a chair in the collection at Southill, Bedfordshire (P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed., 1954, vol. I, p. 277, fig. 160). A pair of armchairs of this form was sold Christie’s New York, 19 October 2000, lot 100 ($182,000); a single chair of virtually identical form was sold Christie's London, 15 April 1999, lot 65; a further related pair was sold Sotheby's London, 5 July 1997, lot 58.

George Trollope & Sons

The  firm, established in 1820 as 'paper hangers, carvers & gilders', expanded into interior decoration and by 1849 was also trading as an estate agency, letting and controlling property for the Grosvenor Estates and participated in the 1851 Great Exhibition. By the end of the 19th century they were also selling antique furniture, like many other furnishing firms of the day. In 1903 the firm merged with Colls and Sons.

Dimensions

Width: 28.5 in / 72.5 cm
Depth: 31.5 in / 80 cm
Height: 39.75 in / 101 cm
Seat Height: 17.5 in / 44.5 cm

Condition

The armchair has been re-railed at some point in the past, however, the show-wood is original and has acquired beautiful colour and patination.