BY GILLOWS

Their Roman 'curule' pattern derives from Breakfast Room chairs illustrated in Thomas Hope's Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, l807, pls. 7 and 20. These inspired the design of a suite of related leather-cushioned library chairs, which are thought to have been introduced to Berrington Hall, Herefordshire around l900 by the first Lord Cawley P.C. (d. l937) (J. Cornforth, 'Berrington Hall, Herefordshire', Country Life, 9 January l992, p. 42). Another set of six closely related chairs were sold by Lady Marion Simpson-Baikie, in these Rooms, 23 July l98l, lot 96. The present pair of chairs, stamped by Gillow of Oxford Street reflect the revived 'Sheraton Regency' taste of the late 19th Century.