Lot Essay
The elegant rectilinear sofa, with Grecian key-fretted arms issuing Apollonian sunflowered tablets above fluted columnar legs, reflects the George III French/antique fashion introduced around 1780 and popularised Messrs A. Hepplewhite & Co.'s, Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788. With its cut-cornered 'tablet' back intended for four loose rectilinear cushions; and high 'bergere' arms, intended to be accompanied by French rolled cushions, it corresponds to two of Hepplewhite's sofas 'in the newest fashion', while its hollow-scrolled arms and legs featured in another pattern (Hepplewhite, ibid. pls. 21, 23 and 25). As recommended by Hepplewhite its white japanned frame is sunk with a golden ribbon band, and was no doubt intended to be covered in a sprigged and ribbon-striped upholstery as later featured on another of his related sofas patterns in his Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, 1793 (pl. XXXV).