SECOND QUARTER 18TH CENTURY, POSSIBLY EITHER BY OR UPHOLSTERED BY SAMUEL BOLUS, WORCESTER

One of the stools from this set of seat furniture has the name 'Samuel Bolus, Worcester' inscribed in large writing to the under-cloth. That stool has been re-railed, probably during the second half of the 20th century, however, it can be identified in a photograph from the early 20th century owing to its distinctive needlework covering making it likely that the under-cloth was preserved, along with the somewhat fragile needlework which it retains today, when the restoration took place, something that would be in keeping with the approach to the restoration of the collection when the last two Lords Sandys gradually awoke Ombersley Court from its long slumber. It is possible that Bolus could have supplied the suite of furniture, although given his known dates (fl. 1740-58), by which time this would have been somewhat old fashioned, it seems likely that he may simply have reupholstered it in the middle years of the 18th century. The suite, along with lot 26 in this sale, is most likely one of the several sets of 'walnut tree' chairs and stools indigenous to the house, which are recorded in the manuscript inventory of the contents of Ombersley Court taken circa 1750 and updated in 1775.