A MATCHED PAIR OF WILLIAM IV ROSEWOOD SOFAS

AFTER A DESIGN BY JOHN TAYLOR

Details

A MATCHED PAIR OF WILLIAM IV ROSEWOOD SOFAS
After a design by John Taylor
Each with panelled toprail with acanthus-carved ends, above a padded back and seat-cushion, one covered in orange cotton and the other in the remains of floral cotton, with gadrooned vase-shaped arm-supports, on turned tapering reeded legs, brass caps and castors, the upholstery distressed, one with beech rails one with ash rails
Both 37½ in. (95 cm.) high; 86¾ in. (220.5 cm) wide; 29½ in. (75 cm.) deep (2)

Lot Essay

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 flowered plinths. The design was invented 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).

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