Lot Essay
These are of the same pattern, with inevitable minor variations, as the standard Palace of Westminster chair made by Gillows and Holland & Sons to A.W.N. Pugin's design (see: Victoria and Albert Museum Report, London, 1974, p. 13, pl. 1). In a letter of circa November 1850 from Pugin to J.G. Crace, he writes 'Mr. Barry wants a Pattern Chair made for the Commons lobbies. His idea is a light but strong chamfered chair like the above sketch covered with green leather, and stamped on the back. Will you get up one of them to Mr. Barry to see forthwith. Of course the nails must show....'(Victoria and Albert Museum, no. E.1501-1912; the letter illustrated in M. Aldrich (ed.), The Craces: Royal Decorators 1768-1899, Brighton, 1990, p. 140, fig. 5:2).