A SET OF FIVE QUEEN ANNE EBONISED SIDE CHAIRS

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THE PROPERTY OF THE MARQUESS OF CHOLMONDELEY, HOUGHTON HALL, NORFOLK (LOTS 24-42)

A SET OF FIVE QUEEN ANNE EBONISED SIDE CHAIRS

CIRCA 1710-1720

Details

A SET OF FIVE QUEEN ANNE EBONISED SIDE CHAIRS
CIRCA 1710-1720
Each with a rounded rectangular padded back and seat covered in calico, on baluster legs, joined by a waved X-shaped stretcher, on turned feet, one chair with original webbing
40¼ in. (102.5 cm.) high (5)

Provenance

Almost certainly supplied to Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford (1676-1745) for the old Restoration house at Houghton, Norfolk and by descent at Houghton.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

These chairs, which are part of a longer set, are likely to have been supplied for the brick Restoration house at Houghton that was inherited by Sir Robert Walpole on his father's death in 1700. Sir Robert quickly began to modernise the old house, carrying out further improvements in 1716 and 1719. He then made the decision to demolish the Restoration house to make way for his new mansion, the present Houghton Hall.

Related, but slightly more elaborate, chairs were supplied to Sir Richard Onslow, Speaker of the House of Commons, between 1708 and 1715, en suite with a State bed. The chairs are now at Clandon Park, Surrey (A. Bowett, English Furniture from Charles II to Queen Anne 1660-1714, Woodbridge, 2002, p. 257, pl. 8:50).

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