CIRCA 1755

Details

A GEORGE II MAHOGANY AND NEEDLEWORK UPHOLSTERED LIBRARY ARMCHAIR
Circa 1755
The arched back upholstered in mid-18th century gros and petit point needlework depicting a couple labouring in the fields, the seat with a central cartouche depicting Cupid, the padded arms with rosette terminals and foliate and C-scrolled cabriole legs with hairy claw-and-ball feet with inset casters, bearing a label to the inside of the front rail inscribed in black ink 30/thirty

Provenance

H. Bendixson, Roxley House, Hertfordshire.
Property from the Collection of Dr. Frank Crozer Knowles, sold by Order of the Executor of the Estate of Robert C. Alexander, in these Rooms, 22 October 1988, lot 242.

Lot Essay

This fine example of a mid-18th century armchair is not only the type and form of furniture keenly persued by today's collectors but is also an example which was prized by the renowned collectors of the early 20th century. Formerly in the collection of Dr. Frank Crozer Knowles, it stood amongst many fine pieces of Georgian furniture purchased largely from the London dealers Frank Partridge and M. Harris & Sons in the 1930's. Knowles keenly studied the great English collections and where possible acquired such pieces. The most celebrated of these was that of Percival Griffiths, whose collection was discussed by the furniture historian R.W. Symonds in a series of books, all of which were owned by Knowles. In fact, upon the death of Griffiths and the subsequent dispersal of his collection in September 1939 by Christie's, Knowles purchased several of the pieces to add to his own collection.

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