John Kendell of Leeds were active 1783-1840. They were ultimately taken over in 1863 by the best known Leeds firm of Marsh and Jones. By the Regency period the firm was of some size and supplied well known clients in the area including modest work for the Earl of Harewood in 1818-22. Historically their most interesting characteristic is labels of the type on two of the present chairs which are both numbered and inscribed with the name of the individual workman. The lowest number so far recorded is 66000, on a writing table of circa1830 sold by Capt.Sir Everard Radcliffe,Bt., Rudding Park, Yorkshire, Christie's house sale, 16 October 1972, probably lot 193. This and other numbers suggest a date in the mid to late 1830's for the present lot. The name of the workman on the label provides a n interesting parallel with Gillow's of Lancaster where workmen often signed the object itself in pencil (see: The Dictionary of English Furnture Makers, Leeds, 1986, p.505)