Fine Regency Mahogany Sofa, after a design by John Taylor

About This Object

A very fine Regency period carved mahogany sofa in the Grecian taste, after a design by John Taylor.

English, circa 1820

The panelled toprail with acanthus-wrapped scroll ends, above a padded back and seat, above the reeded Grecian urn-shaped padded arm-supports, wreathed in Vitruvian scrolls, over a paneled seat-rail, and raised on lotus-wrapped tapering legs.

The sofa is embellished in the George IV 'antique manner', with reeds gadrooning, the stump feet and 'Grecian urn' arms; and the latter are wrapped like the cresting, with palm-flowered acanthus and stand on panelled plinths.

It corresponds almost exactly to a design, introduced by the Covent Garden upholsterer John Taylor, who had formerly served as an 'artist' in the 'Elegant Printed Furniture Warehouse' established in New Bond Street by George Oakley (d. l840). Taylor's 'Dress Sofa' pattern was published in R. Ackermann's, 'Repository of Arts' 1821, (P. Agius, Ackermann's Regency Furniture and Interiors, Marlborough, 1984, p. 132, pl. 116).

A closely related matched pair of rosewood-framed was sold Christie’s 9 March 2000, Lot 113, and, later, Sotheby’s, London, 10 July 2013, lot 218 (£40,000). A related daybed to the same design was sold Sotheby’s London, 5 June 2007, lot 217 (£22,800). A further related example in oak sold Christie’s London, 1 April 2014, Lot 294.