CIRCA 1825

Details

A PAIR OF GEORGE IV MAHOGANY BERGERES
CIRCA 1825
Each with a barrel-form back and covered in brown leather, with a reeded seatrail extending upwards to create arm-supports in the form of a bird head, on chamfered tapering legs, with casters (2)

Sale room notice

This lot may be exempt from sales tax as set forth in the Sales Tax notice in the back of the sale catalogue (page 118).

Lot Essay

Reflecting the Regency and George IV classical style encouraged by the publications of Thomas Hope, George Smith, and others, these elegant library fireside armchairs have Grecian reeded and lyre-scrolled frames terminating in the griffin/eagle heads evoking the poetry-diety Apollo. Related patterns for 'bergere' chairs appear in a Drawing Room elevation amongst Gillows' early 19th century watercolours for room elevations in the Victoria and Albert Museum (E.47-1952). The chairs in the watercolour have reading arms, just as described in Gillows' 1813 Memorandum for the pair of related bergeres supplied to William Powlett, 2nd Baron Bolton (d. 1850), for Hackwood Park, Hampshire (sold Christie's House sale, 20-22 April 1998, lot 55).

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