Pair of Regency Painted and Gilt Klismos Chairs

A fine pair of bronzed and gilt side chairs of Klismos form
London, circa 1805.

Why we like them
An unusually clean and elegant design, beautifully painted to imitate patinated bronze with ornaments picked out in gold, covered in luxurious John Boyd horsehair fabric. A stunning pair of accent chairs.

A pair of open armchairs and a pair of bergeres ensuite with these chairs were sold Christie's London, 14 November 1996, lots 39 and 40. A closely related armchair, attributable to Gillows of Lancaster, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (W.11-1931.

Design

These elegant chairs reflect the designs of Royal architect/designer Henry Holland and the furniture supplied under his direction to Samuel Whitbread II for Southill Park, Bedfordshire beginning in 1796. English cabinet-makers whose names appear most frequently in conjunction with Holland include Morel, Marsh, Lichfield and Tatham (F. J. B. Watson, Southill: A Regency House, 1951, p. 23). The construction and decoration of these chairs also relates to a model from Coilsfield House, Scotland, shown in Susan Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, London, 2008, vol. I, p.210. Stuart attributes the chairs to Gillows' London manufactory which was producing high-design Sheraton and George Smith-influenced lion-monopodia furniture for several important country houses in the first decade of the 19th century, including Coilsfield.

The distinctive form of these chairs is inspired by ancient Greek 'Klismos' chairs, often depicted on Attic pottery starting from circa 400BC.