A REGENCY MAHOGANY METAMORPHIC LIBRARY ARMCHAIR

Details
A REGENCY MAHOGANY METAMORPHIC LIBRARY ARMCHAIR
ATTRIBUTED TO GILLOWS OF LANCASTER

The panelled top-rail with moulded banding and central spirally turning flowerhead, above the horizontal splat with conforming flowerheads and the reeded rails above the caned seat and splayed legs, the steps with inset floral carpet, the caning replaced, one upright spliced
Provenance
Probably supplied to Morton John Davison, Esq. (1778-1841), for Beamish Park, Co. Durham
Thence by indirect descent with the house to Robert Duncombe Shafto, Esq., of Beamish Park and subsequently of Bavington Hall

Lot Essay

This chair pattern, with Grecian-scrolled legs and incised tablet-rail with flowered patera, features cable or reed-twist ornaments and, as it was introduced at the time of Nelson's victory, became popularly known as a 'Trafalgar' chair. Also it may have been invented by Morgan and Sanders of the 'Trafalgar Workshops', London. Gillows of London and Lancaster, who illustrated a 'Trafalgar Pattern' chair in their 1810 Estimate Sketch Book, later referred to it as their 'Edwards' pattern, following the supply of Library chairs thought to have been executed for Pennant, the Rev. H. Holland Edward's house in Wales (see S. Sartin, Gillow Chairs and Fashion, Blackburn, 1991, p. 28).

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