Lot Essay
A billhead of Edinburgh furniture-maker Francis Brodie (fl.1732-1777) dated 1739 shows an armchair of related design with scallop-shells at both the center of the front apron and at the tops of the legs (see F. Bamford, 'A Dictionary of Edinburgh Wrights and Furniture Makers', F.H.S.J., 1983, p.24A). A later trade card of the London firm of Landall and Gordon shows a more exotic examples of the same basic form (see A. Heal, The London Furniture Makers, 1953, p.93).
This pair of chairs is part of a larger set from which two pairs were sold at Sotheby's New York, 24 October 1992, lot 334 and 21 January 1995, lot 419, respectively. Several related pairs sold recently include a pair sold Christie's London, 16 November 1995, lot 50; another pair sold by the Trustees of the S.T. Cook Will Trust, Sotheby's New York, 16 October 1993, lot 347; and a third pair sold Sotheby's New York, 12 October 1995, lot 300. A closely related example from the collection of Guy N. Charrington, Esq. is illustrated in R.W. Symonds, Masterpieces of English Furniture and Clocks, 1986, p.1, fig.1. A chair with virtually identical back centering a marquetry panel (but different legs) is illustrated in H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, n.d., vol. I, p. 74, fig. 86.
The Aldrich family originated in Maine and moved to Boston in the 19th century. Eleanor L. Aldrich (née Little), who signed one of these seat cushions, married Talbot Aldrich, son of Thomas Bailey Aldrich, a poet and editor of The Atlantic Monthly in the 1890's. It is likely that these chairs formed part of the Aldrich collection at their 59 Mount Vernon Street, Boston home. Eleanor Aldrich founded the library at Tenants Harbor, Maine, where the family owned their summer home.
This pair of chairs is part of a larger set from which two pairs were sold at Sotheby's New York, 24 October 1992, lot 334 and 21 January 1995, lot 419, respectively. Several related pairs sold recently include a pair sold Christie's London, 16 November 1995, lot 50; another pair sold by the Trustees of the S.T. Cook Will Trust, Sotheby's New York, 16 October 1993, lot 347; and a third pair sold Sotheby's New York, 12 October 1995, lot 300. A closely related example from the collection of Guy N. Charrington, Esq. is illustrated in R.W. Symonds, Masterpieces of English Furniture and Clocks, 1986, p.1, fig.1. A chair with virtually identical back centering a marquetry panel (but different legs) is illustrated in H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, n.d., vol. I, p. 74, fig. 86.
The Aldrich family originated in Maine and moved to Boston in the 19th century. Eleanor L. Aldrich (née Little), who signed one of these seat cushions, married Talbot Aldrich, son of Thomas Bailey Aldrich, a poet and editor of The Atlantic Monthly in the 1890's. It is likely that these chairs formed part of the Aldrich collection at their 59 Mount Vernon Street, Boston home. Eleanor Aldrich founded the library at Tenants Harbor, Maine, where the family owned their summer home.