The elegantly pierced 'umbrella' back of this chair, typical of the French taste of the 1780's, with a Palmyra-type patera issuing stylized sunrays, derives from a design in A. Hepplewhite and Co., The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788, pl.6.Hepplewhite comments that the design is particularly suitable for 'painted' or 'japanned' work. A closely related set of six armchairs were sold Christie's London, 14 July 1994, lot 372, while an undecorated example in satinwood is illustrated in P.Macquoid, The Age of Satinwood, 1908, fig.230. A set of eight mahogany armchairs of similar design from the collection of Mrs. Robert Tritton, Godmersham Park, Kent, were sold Christie's London, 6-9 June 1983, lot 52.