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Lot Essay
These chairs are rare survivals with their 'turkeywork' coverings which were prized throughout the seventeenth century. 'Turkeywork' upholstery was woven on a loom, with knotted pile in imitation of genuine Turkish carpets. Close similarities between surviving designs indicate that these coverings for chairs and carpets were produced by professional weavers, probably working in a center such as Norwich, with its immigrant colony of weavers from the Netherlands.
The distinctive pattern on these chair backs depicting a large stylized rose on a black ground with scattered flowers can be dated to circa 1668 based on its similarities to surviving chairs from a large set invoiced for Holyrood, the royal residence in Edinburgh in that same year (see M.Swain, 'The Turkey-work Chairs of Holyroodhouse', Upholstery in America and Europe From the Seventeenth Century until World War I, E. Cooke, Jr., ed., New York, 1987, pp.51-63, fig.31).
The distinctive pattern on these chair backs depicting a large stylized rose on a black ground with scattered flowers can be dated to circa 1668 based on its similarities to surviving chairs from a large set invoiced for Holyrood, the royal residence in Edinburgh in that same year (see M.Swain, 'The Turkey-work Chairs of Holyroodhouse', Upholstery in America and Europe From the Seventeenth Century until World War I, E. Cooke, Jr., ed., New York, 1987, pp.51-63, fig.31).