Fine Regency Rosewood Sofa by John Taylor

A very fine Regency period carved rosewood sofa in the Grecian taste, after a design by John Taylor, possibly executed by Gillows of Lancaster.

English, circa 1825.

The panelled toprail centered with floral and foliate trailing carving and flanked by acanthus-wrapped carved scroll ends, above the reeded Grecian urn-shaped padded arm-supports, over a moulded seat-rail, and raised on turned, egg-and-dart moulded and lotus-wrapped tapering feet, raised on brass castors.

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. The finest quality of carving relates to the oeuvre of the celebrated Gillows firm, who might well be credited for the execution of this elegant sofa for a discerning patron.

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 sofas 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.

Fine antique condition, new upholstery.