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Lot Essay
The fretted-trellis chair backs tied at the corners and centered by lozenged compartments between paired rails derives from the type of patterns published in W. Halfpenny's Twenty New designs of Chinese Lattice, 1750, E Hoppus's The Gentleman and Builder's Repository, 1760 and J. Crunden and J. Morris's The Carpenter's Companion for Chinese Railings and Gates, 1765. The octagonal form of the central tablet is featured on a 'Chinese chair' pattern in Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, pl. XXVII. While Chippendale noted that such chairs suited Chinese Temples, he also explained that his 'Designs of chairs after the Chinese manner...are very proper for a lady's Dressing Room, especially if it is hung with India (Chinese) paper.'
Further related patterns feature in A New Book of Chinese, Gothic and Modern Chairs, 1750 by Matthias Darly (fl. c.1740-1775), who shared Northumberland Court premises with Thomas Chippendale and engraved the majority of the plates for The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754.
The chairs are related to the well-known set of chairs and matching window seats commissioned by the 4th Duke of Beaufort for Badminton House, Gloucester (P. Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, p. 258, pl. 245.) A set of eight fruitwood armchairs of similar design to this model was sold Christie's, London, 15 June 2000, lot 237 (£42,300); a set of twelve japanned dining-chairs was sold Christie's, New York, 8 April 2004, lot 217 ($47,800) and a set of four padouk armchairs from Scone Palace, was sold Christie's, London, 24 May 2007, lot 298 (£34,800).
Further related patterns feature in A New Book of Chinese, Gothic and Modern Chairs, 1750 by Matthias Darly (fl. c.1740-1775), who shared Northumberland Court premises with Thomas Chippendale and engraved the majority of the plates for The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754.
The chairs are related to the well-known set of chairs and matching window seats commissioned by the 4th Duke of Beaufort for Badminton House, Gloucester (P. Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, p. 258, pl. 245.) A set of eight fruitwood armchairs of similar design to this model was sold Christie's, London, 15 June 2000, lot 237 (£42,300); a set of twelve japanned dining-chairs was sold Christie's, New York, 8 April 2004, lot 217 ($47,800) and a set of four padouk armchairs from Scone Palace, was sold Christie's, London, 24 May 2007, lot 298 (£34,800).