IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS CHIPPENDALE

The frame of the oval medallion pier glass has Grecian palms tied by a pearled-ribbon band, and its style corresponds to 'antique' ornament of the 1770s, such as that used by Thomas Chippendale (d. 1779) in some of his furnishings for Harewood House, Yorkshire. In particular it appears on medallion-backed chairs invoiced in 1773 (C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol. II, p. 106, fig. 178). A related giltwood and papier-maché oval frame by Thomas Chippendale, but with fluting instead of leaves, was sold by the Trustees of the Harewood Charitable Trust, in these Rooms, 10 April 1986, lot 78.
In 1774 Chippendale supplied Paxton House, Berwickshire with a related pier glass, whose frame was carved with palm and pearl ornament and ornamented at top and bottom with acanthus foliage (C. Gilbert, op. cit., vol. II, p. 153, fig. 279).