Lot Essay
This form of bergère was named a 'curricle', after the Roman magistrate or consul's seat, by Thomas Sheraton in The Cabinet Dictionary, London, 1803. The name was adopted by Gillows of London and Lancaster, who supplied five chairs of this model between 1811 and 1812 to Wilbraham Egerton for Tatton Park, Cheshire, at a cost of £5 each and intended for bedrooms and dressing-rooms (N. Goodison and J. Hardy, 'Gillows at Tatton Park', Furniture History, 1970, pl. 16A and S. Bourne, 'Gillow Chairs and Fashion', Exhibition Catalogue, Blackburn, 1991, pp. 32-33.
Related chairs were sold from Endsleigh, Devon, Christie's house sale, 20-21 September 2004, lot 848, a pair made in elm (£11,950 including premium), and another pair of mahogany, from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Coleridge, Christie's, London, 27 May 201, lot 72 (£11,250 including premium).
Related chairs were sold from Endsleigh, Devon, Christie's house sale, 20-21 September 2004, lot 848, a pair made in elm (£11,950 including premium), and another pair of mahogany, from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Coleridge, Christie's, London, 27 May 201, lot 72 (£11,250 including premium).