Lot Essay
The basic chair pattern derives from that illustrated in Plate 20 (no.3) of Thomas Hope's Duchess Street guide entitled Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807, while the Grecian-fret inlay is likely to have been inspired by that of the adjoining klismos-patterned chair (no.5). Late 19th Century interest in the French Empire style introduced by C. Percier and P. Fontaine also caused attention to be drawn to the publication by Hope, and in 1895 an article in the Cabinet Maker (vol.XV), credited him for having 'headed the classic movement' at the beginning of the century.