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Lot Essay
This pair of bergères was supplied en suite with a canapé and set of six side chairs which remain at Althorp. The inventory of furniture at Althorp painstakingly put together by Albert Edward John, 7th Earl Spencer (1892-1975), the 'Curator Earl', transcribes the bills relating to this commission: "The Honble Lady Spencer To Frans. Hervé, by the order of Messrs. Holland & Daguire [sic.]
"1791, Jan. 25, To 6 Cabriole Backstools, made to match a Canopy Bedstead etc. at £2d."
"1791, Feb. 2, To 2 Tête à Tête to match do. at £3. 13s/."
"Carving and Gilding done for the Right Honble Earl Spencer by order of Mr. Holland by Jeff. Nelson. Jan. ye 15th 1791"
"To sophas, Chairs etc for Dressg Room.
"To one large Folding Sopha, two Tete a Tetes and six chairs all neatly gilt in Burnd. Gold, pick'd in with white and varnish'd £28.10."
The first mention of this group of furniture occurs in an estimate of the work still to be done at Althorp submitted by Holland at the end of 1790: 'Articles of Furniture in hand under Mr Dagures estimate consisting of the Japan c'modes fitting up for the drawing room, the commodes chairs &c. For Lady Spencer's dressing room, 300'.
Henry Holland's triple Library at Althorp is perhaps one of his most successful creations - and his works at Althorp, totalling £20,257 certainly found favour with the Countess Spencer, judging that Holland had given them a house 'the image of comfort, so convenient, so cheerful, so neat, so roomy yet so compact'.
"1791, Jan. 25, To 6 Cabriole Backstools, made to match a Canopy Bedstead etc. at £2d."
"1791, Feb. 2, To 2 Tête à Tête to match do. at £3. 13s/."
"Carving and Gilding done for the Right Honble Earl Spencer by order of Mr. Holland by Jeff. Nelson. Jan. ye 15th 1791"
"To sophas, Chairs etc for Dressg Room.
"To one large Folding Sopha, two Tete a Tetes and six chairs all neatly gilt in Burnd. Gold, pick'd in with white and varnish'd £28.10."
The first mention of this group of furniture occurs in an estimate of the work still to be done at Althorp submitted by Holland at the end of 1790: 'Articles of Furniture in hand under Mr Dagures estimate consisting of the Japan c'modes fitting up for the drawing room, the commodes chairs &c. For Lady Spencer's dressing room, 300'.
Henry Holland's triple Library at Althorp is perhaps one of his most successful creations - and his works at Althorp, totalling £20,257 certainly found favour with the Countess Spencer, judging that Holland had given them a house 'the image of comfort, so convenient, so cheerful, so neat, so roomy yet so compact'.