AFTER A DESIGN BY MORGAN & SANDERS, POSSIBLY BY GILLOWS, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Details

A REGENCY MAHOGANY READING-CHAIR
AFTER A DESIGN BY MORGAN & SANDERS, POSSIBLY BY GILLOWS, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
With U-shaped toprail above a triple-splat back and leather-covered seat, on reeded baluster legs, with ash seat-rails, later front brass caps and castors, lacking sliding book-rest

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This type of 'Library Reading Chair', with moveable book-stand, was invented by the Strand cabinet-makers, Messrs Morgan and Saunders (R. Ackermann, Repository of Arts, September 1810, pl. 19). It was described as one of 'the most convenient and comfortable library chairs perhaps ever completed' (P. Agius, Ackermann's Regency Furniture & Interiors, London, 1984, p. 54).
The pinched tapering foot is a characteristic of the work of Gillows, seen for example on the set of dining-chairs supplied to the 2nd Lord Bolton (d. 1850) for Hackwood Park, Hampshire in 1813 (see Christie's house sale, 20 April 1998, lot 158).
A closely related reading-chair was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 6 July 1989, lot 63.

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