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Lot Essay
The carved seat-rail pattern on these chairs, with elongated scrolls centered by a cabochon formed of four confronting C-scrolls, appears to be a unique interpretation of a 'French' patterned chair as it appears in Thomas Chippendale's influential Director published in three editions from 1754 to 1763, plates XX-XXIII. It is likely that these chairs were executed by a cabinet-maker working outside of London, perhaps in Northern England or Ireland, emulating contemporary fashion in London.
A closely related library armchair was advertised by Hotspur Ltd. in the 1965 Antique Dealer's Fair exhibition catalogue. A set of four chairs of a similar design, one bearing the pencil inscription '..Shrewsbury', was sold by the collector H.J. Joel, Esq., Childwick Bury, Hertfordshire, Christie's London, 15 May 1978, lot 67. The whorled feet wrapped by Roman acanthus also feature on a metamorphic architect's table that was sold Christie's London, the property of a Gentleman, 3 July 1997, lot 6.
A closely related library armchair was advertised by Hotspur Ltd. in the 1965 Antique Dealer's Fair exhibition catalogue. A set of four chairs of a similar design, one bearing the pencil inscription '..Shrewsbury', was sold by the collector H.J. Joel, Esq., Childwick Bury, Hertfordshire, Christie's London, 15 May 1978, lot 67. The whorled feet wrapped by Roman acanthus also feature on a metamorphic architect's table that was sold Christie's London, the property of a Gentleman, 3 July 1997, lot 6.