Lot Essay
The Grecian Sofa, with reeded cresting and flute-enriched seat-rail, arm-scrolls and legs, was executed by Gillows at Lancaster and would have been designed to stand out from the Parlour or Drawing-Room fireplace at Coed Coch. Its pattern-sketch, accompanied by manufacturing costs, survives in the firm's Estimate Sketch Book, dated 16 December 1806 (Gillow MSS in Westminster Library no. 1807). In Elizabeth Wynne's portrait, executed in 1811 by Joseph Allen (d. 1839), the voluted scrolls of the sofa are illustrated with rosettes. The rosettes must have been fixed with a very small pin, and removed a long time ago, as there is no shadow on the wood.
A similar pair of sofas in parcel-gilt and ebony were sold anonymously at Sotheby's, London, 13 November 1987, lot 131. A pair without the tablets above the legs and with cane-filled backs were sold anonymously, in these Roooms, 11 October 1990, lot 67.
A similar pair of sofas in parcel-gilt and ebony were sold anonymously at Sotheby's, London, 13 November 1987, lot 131. A pair without the tablets above the legs and with cane-filled backs were sold anonymously, in these Roooms, 11 October 1990, lot 67.