Fine Pair of Regency Hall Chairs, Attributed to Gillows

An rare and unusual fine pair of early Regency mahogany klismos hall chairs of exceptional quality, attributed to Gillows of Lancaster and London.
English, c. 1810

The scrolling cresting rails above the wedge-shaped backs with central roundel, above the solid rectangular seats, raised on four square tapering sabre legs.

Both chairs are stamped 'AD' to back seat rails, which most likely refers to the journeyman's initials; a pair of Regency armchairs bearing the same stamp was attributed to Gillows (Christies, 10 July 2003, London, Lot 83), similar stamps 'AI' and 'AP' appeared on dining chairs, supplied by Gillows to Hackwood House (Christies, 20-22 April 1998, Hackwood House, Lot 158). However, Sotheby’s attributed four nearly identical chairs (Sotheby's, New York, October 16, 2009, Lot 80) to James Newton, 63 Wardour Street, London, based on the fact that the backs share close similarity to the trestle support of a mahogany sofa table bearing the cabinetmaker’s label.