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Lot Essay
The design of these chairs was clearly inspired by patterns published in George Smith's A Collection of Designs for Household Furniture in 1808, in his 'noble pursuit after classical originals'. The overall form derives from a design for a 'Drawing room chair' (pl.56), while the palmette-enriched panther supports feature in plates 83. A virtually identical example is illustrated in E.T. Joy, The Country Life Book of Chairs, London, 1967, pl.70. Another closely related chair with raised crestrail is illustrated in situ in H.L. Goodhart-Rendel's London drawing room, J. Cornforth, The Inspiration of the Past, Middlesex, 1985, p.62, fig.58.