Lot Essay
The chairs are designed in the Louis XVI manner with medallioned backs enriched with flower posies. Their tablet-cut rail with sunflowered patterae corresponds to those of a set of japanned medallion-back chairs supplied for Chatsworth, Derbyshire in 1782 by François Hervé (d. 1796), who traded as a cabinet-maker and chair-maker in Johns Street and was patronised by George, Prince of Wales, later King George IV (I. Hall, 'A Neoclassical Episode at Chatsworth, The Burlington Magazine, June 1980, pp.400-414, fig.40).
A set of six gilt open armchairs from Chatsworth and attributed to Hervé, with closely related arms and seat-rail were sold by the Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement, in these Rooms, 23 June 1983, lot 61, along with a set of six side chairs, en suite (lot 60).
A set of six gilt open armchairs from Chatsworth and attributed to Hervé, with closely related arms and seat-rail were sold by the Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement, in these Rooms, 23 June 1983, lot 61, along with a set of six side chairs, en suite (lot 60).