THE FASHION FOR THE EMPIRE STYLE, AS NOTED IN THE CABINET-MAKER OF NOVEMBER 1894, RE-AWAKENED AN INTEREST IN ANTIQUE-STYLE FURNITURE AFTER THE FRENCH MANNER PARTICULARLY THAT DESIGNED AROUND 1800 BY THE CONNOISSEUR THOMAS HOPE FOR HIS MANSION/MUSEUM IN DUCHESS STREET. THIS WAS ILLUSTRATED IN HIS HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE & INTERIOR DECORATION, 1807. THE FIRM OF GILLOW & CO. OF OXFORD STREET AND LANCASTER, FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS OF ANTIQUE FURNITURE, ALSO SPECIALISED AT THIS PERIOD IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FURNITURE IN HISTORIC STYLES. THIS ARMCHAIR, WITH ITS SARCOPHAGUS TABLET BACK, DERIVES FROM A CURRULE CHAIR FROM HOPE'S COLLECTION. ITS PATTERN IS ILLUSTRATED IN HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, PLATE XX, BUT AS EXECUTED IT IS COMBINED WITH VARIOUS MODIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONS (SEE: D.WATKIN, THOMAS HOPE, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND INTERIOR DECORATION, NEW YORK, 1971, FIG. 6 AND PLATE 20). THE DESIGNER OF THIS CHAIR MUST HAVE SEEN EXAMPLES OF HOPE'S CHAIRS BECAUSE THE DESIGN, PARTICULARLY OF THE TABLET BACK, INCORPORATES ADDITIONAL DETAILS WHICH ARE NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE THE DESIGN ILLUSTRATED IN HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE.