The rounded seat rail and slightly raked back are characteristice of the work of the Regency chairmaker John Gee (cf., for example, a stamped set of chairs sold anonymously in these Rooms, 9 July 1992, lot 91). The ring-turned slightly-splayed legs appear on a set of chairs, also stamped, sold anonymously in these Rooms, 9 April 1992, lot 94. Two further types of chair incorporating the lion-mask in the toprail are also attributable to Gee on other grounds (sold in these Rooms, 25 February 1993, lots 79 and 82) The second of these, a pair, was also stamped BB.
In 1779 John Gee replaced Thomas Ayliffe as partner to Benjamin Crompton who had been 'Turner in Ordinary' to George III since 1762. From 1779, Gee, of 49 Wardour Street, Soho, was listed in the London directories. By 1803, as well as being included in the list of master cabinet-makers attached to Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, he was referred to as 'Chairmaker and Turner to His Majesty'. He is not recorded after 1824.