SECOND QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

Details

A GEORGE II WALNUT READING-CHAIR
SECOND QUARTER 18TH CENTURY
With tan leather-covered yoke-shape toprail and back above a compass-fronted seat, on turned tapering legs joined by turned stretchers, on pad feet, with a drawer fitted in the front seatrail, the right arm with swing-out brass fitted pen-tray, with original scrim and webbing, the hinged pen-tray replaced

Provenance

The late Lore and Rudolph Heinemann; sold Christie's, New York, 17 October 1997, lot 334.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

Lot Essay

A library-chair of this form, but with serpentined legs, was popularised as the 'author's chair' of the poet, John Gay (d. 1732), when it belonged to the architect George Godwin (d. 1888) (The Builder, 30 March 1878). The poet's chair has also been referred to as 'The Barnstaple Chair' (Illustrated London News, London, 1849, vol. 15, pt. 2, p. 284 and C. Graham, Ceremonial Chairs in Great Britain, Avon, 1994, p. 91, fig. 111). Another chair of the present pattern, but with hinged book-rest on the back, was formerly in the collection of The Earl of Buckingham, sold by his Executors, Sotheby's London, 25 October 1963, lot 138.

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