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Lot Essay
The armchair model is well-known: a suite of seat furniture of this early George III 'French' pattern, comprising settees, armchairs and chairs is likely to have been commissioned by Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis (d. 1772) for Powis Castle, Wales, or Oakly Park, Shropshire, whilst employing the Cheshire architect William Baker (d. 1771) to carry out improvements to both properties in the 1750s (M. Hall, 'Powis Castle', Country Life, 21 October 1993, p. 81, figs. 5 & 6).
A set of eight side chairs of this model was sold from Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, in these Rooms, 11 July 1948, lot 62. A pair of side chairs and a single side chair, almost certainly from the same suite as the latter stool, were sold by the Estate of the 2nd Viscount Camrose, Hackwood Park, Hampshire, Christie's house sale, 20-22 April 1998, lots 119 (£43,300) and 120 (£7,475). A matched pair was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 29 November 2001, lot 98 (£32,900).
A set of eight side chairs of this model was sold from Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, in these Rooms, 11 July 1948, lot 62. A pair of side chairs and a single side chair, almost certainly from the same suite as the latter stool, were sold by the Estate of the 2nd Viscount Camrose, Hackwood Park, Hampshire, Christie's house sale, 20-22 April 1998, lots 119 (£43,300) and 120 (£7,475). A matched pair was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 29 November 2001, lot 98 (£32,900).