About This Object
An exceptional example of late Georgian furniture in the ‘Antique’ style, almost certainly by the celebrated firm of Gillows of Lancaster and London, undoubtedly influenced by the ‘Antique’ style, promoted by Charles Heathcote Tatham, Thomas Hope and George Smith.
English, c. 1805.
Crafted of rich mahogany, the chair boasts the sleek, elegant lines and precise construction, adorned by foliate-carved scroll cresting above the square panelled back, above the square solid seat raised on tapered and moulded front legs terminating in turned egg feet, and finely splayed sabre back supports. The piece's superb quality, choice of timber and sophisticated decoration suggest the best furniture-makers of the era.
A set of nearly identical chairs was supplied to John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon (d. 1838), Lord Chancellor of England (illustrated Christie’s catalogue 20 May 2014, New York, Lot 102)
A further closely related set by Gillows is at Attingham Park, Shropshire, England, supplied to Lord Berwick.
Further identical pair of chairs attributed to Gillows was sold by Phillips, illustrated in Miller's Late Georgian to Edwardian Furniture Buyer's Guide, 1998, p. 203.
