Lot Essay
A number of chairs from the workshop of the St. John's Square, Clerkenwell chair and cabinet-maker Giles Grendey (d. 1780) bear the stamp of his journeymen. This chair may have come from his workshop on the basis of the presence of the stamp 'WH', very probably for William House, who was employed by Grendey from 14 April 1747 (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, pp. 371-372).
A pair of side chairs of a known Grendey model also stamped 'WH' was sold Christie's New York, 9 October 1993, lot 354. A pair of armchairs also stamped 'WH' was sold Christie's New York, 13 April 2000, lot 188 ($95,000). Another pair, from Ettington Park, was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 10 July 2003, lot 120 (£218,050).
A pair of side chairs of a known Grendey model also stamped 'WH' was sold Christie's New York, 9 October 1993, lot 354. A pair of armchairs also stamped 'WH' was sold Christie's New York, 13 April 2000, lot 188 ($95,000). Another pair, from Ettington Park, was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 10 July 2003, lot 120 (£218,050).