THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

The Ionic scrolled seats of Roman 'triclinium' couch form are designed in the elegant George III 'antique' style as featured in a 1770s design by the architect James Wyatt (d.1813), where they appeared en suite with a French-fashioned 'cabriolet' chair (J. Fowler and J. Cornforth, English Decoration in the 18th Century, London, 1986, fig.13). Appropriate for the embellishment of a Drawing Room room-of-entertainment they are labelled to recall Ovid's Metamorphoses with bas-relief 'tablets' sculpted in evocation of Apollo's triumph as the Mount Parnassus poetry deity. Veils are drawn to reveal 'libation-patera' medallions bearing his sacred sunflower; while laurels festoon the sunflowers displayed above the palm-flowered and antique-fluted columnar legs. Amongst related contemporary 'Window Stools' are those invoiced in 1775 by the London 'upholder' Thomas Ward (d.1780) for Holme Hall, Yorkshire (sold Sotheby's London, 30 October 1969, lot 178). The seats may have originally formed part of a suite, which included a 'cabriolet' armchair (sold anonymously, Christie's London, 4 March 2004, lot 150); and a settee (sold anonymously, Sotheby's New York, 18 October 1997, lot 147). A pair of armchairs possibly from the same suite was sold by the late Mrs Robert Tritton, Godmersham Park, Kent, Christie's house sale, 6 June 1983, lot 125. A further pair was sold by the late Sir Philip Shelbourne, Myles Place, Salisbury, Wiltshire, Christie's house sale, 25-26 October 1993, lot 9. The inscription 'Hornby' has not been identified, but it most likely refers to a craftsman and the number possibly refers to a stock design.