.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Adam Bowett considers the widespread adoption of the horsebone leg in the mid-1680's to be the result of the influence of the Royal chairmaker Thomas Roberts. Differring to the previously common double scroll leg by featuring a pronounced 'break' in the scroll, the foot being scrolled forwards rather than back, this design was first depicted in Francis Sandford's History of the Coronation of James II and Queen Mary published in 1687. The angled or 'corner' horsebone was to become common in the 1690's. The prominently arched stretcher - as displayed on the Hinton stools - was introduced around 1700, and many of Thomas Roberts' bills of this period specifically mention this feature:- 'for six square stoole frames walnuttree feet and arched rails carved and pollished' (1703) (A. Bowett, English Furniture 1660 - 1714, From Charles II to Queen Anne, Woodbridge, p. 100, pp. 236 - 241, and p. 250).
HINTON HOUSE
There has been a house at Hinton since 1490 but very little of the original building remains. With the family's newly elevated status in 1627, the 1st Baron Poulett (d. 1649) improved and enlarged the house accordingly. In 1650 the estate ledgers show extensive building work was carried out, resulting in two further wings. In the early 18th Century, John, 1st Earl Poulett (1663-1743) remodelled the Long Gallery. It was presumably for this newly completed Long Gallery that these stools - from a suite of Parade furniture - were commissioned, along with further suite of ebonised and parcel-gilt seat-furniture - undoubtedly executed by the same hand and comprising a pair of wing armchairs, ten side chairs and a pair of stools was sold from Hinton at Sotheby's London, 1 November 1968, lot 41.
Subsequently altered for John, 4th Earl Poulett (1756-1819) by both Soane and James Wyatt (1746-1813), the contents of Hinton House were sold by George, 8th Earl Poulett (d. 1973) in sales at Sotheby's, London, 1 November and 8 November 1968, and 28 March 1969.
HINTON HOUSE
There has been a house at Hinton since 1490 but very little of the original building remains. With the family's newly elevated status in 1627, the 1st Baron Poulett (d. 1649) improved and enlarged the house accordingly. In 1650 the estate ledgers show extensive building work was carried out, resulting in two further wings. In the early 18th Century, John, 1st Earl Poulett (1663-1743) remodelled the Long Gallery. It was presumably for this newly completed Long Gallery that these stools - from a suite of Parade furniture - were commissioned, along with further suite of ebonised and parcel-gilt seat-furniture - undoubtedly executed by the same hand and comprising a pair of wing armchairs, ten side chairs and a pair of stools was sold from Hinton at Sotheby's London, 1 November 1968, lot 41.
Subsequently altered for John, 4th Earl Poulett (1756-1819) by both Soane and James Wyatt (1746-1813), the contents of Hinton House were sold by George, 8th Earl Poulett (d. 1973) in sales at Sotheby's, London, 1 November and 8 November 1968, and 28 March 1969.