With their trellis-backs, derived from antique athenienne tripods, these chairs were inspired by the suite supplied by Georges Jacob (maître in 1765) for Marie-Antoinette's dairy at Rambouillet and are closely related to the set of 'twenty mahogany trellis chairs, the back legs reeded and fluted, the seats covered with best leather' supplied by the cabinet-maker David Bruce (d.1823) of Aldersgate Street for the Governor's room at the Bank of England. The design of that set is usually associated with Sir John Soane (d.1837), both because of his role as architect to the Bank of England from 1788 to 1833, and because he himself owned a pair of armchairs which are still in the Soane Museum (see: P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furnitures, London, rev.ed. 1954, vol.I, p.307, fig.264, and Carlton Hobbs Ltd., Catalogue Number Three, 1992, no.9).

A very closely related suite was sold in these Rooms, 19 November 1992, lot 39.