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Lot Essay
These chairs may be attributed to John Linnell based on the many design details associated with this celebrated cabinet-maker. The ball handholds clasped by acanthus are a recurrent motif in his documented work. These appear on a set of armchairs supplied to Robert Child for Osterley Park, Middlesex in circa 1768, a set supplied to the Earl of Harewood for Harewood House, Yorkshire in circa 1775 and seat furniture supplied to the Duke of Argyll for Inverary Castle in circa 1775-1778 (see H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol.II, figs. 72, 88 and 89). This feature also appears on a design attributed to Linnell of circa 1770-1775 (op.cit, fig.87). The design of the crestrail compares to the seat furniture upholstered in Gobelin tapestry supplied for the Tapestry Room at Osterley Park (fig.92) and the broadly framed cartouche back with leaf-tip carved outer border figures on a suite of seat furniture supplied to the Duke of Northumberland's home at Stansted Park, Sussex and now at the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, San Marino, California, illustrated ibid, fig.84 and based on a design attributed to Linnell, fig.83.
A giltwood armchair with remarkably similar back and carved crestrail was sold Christie's London, 23 May 1968 and is illustrated in G. Beard and J. Goodison, English Furniture 1500-1840, London, 1987, p. 160.
Another pair from this same set was sold anonymously, Christie's London, 28 June 1984, lot 76.
A giltwood armchair with remarkably similar back and carved crestrail was sold Christie's London, 23 May 1968 and is illustrated in G. Beard and J. Goodison, English Furniture 1500-1840, London, 1987, p. 160.
Another pair from this same set was sold anonymously, Christie's London, 28 June 1984, lot 76.