SEVEN POSSIBLY BY JOHN AND WILLIAM LINNELL, CIRCA 1775, TOGETHER WITH ONE ARMCHAIR AND FOUR SIDE CHAIRS LATE 19TH EARLY 20TH CENTURY

This medallion-backed pattern, with a richly-beaded frame, relates to the elegant French 'cabriolet' fashion of the 1770s. Their beaded frame recalls the work of the Berkeley Square upholsterer John Linnell (d.1796), such as the suite he supplied for the Tapestry Room at Osterley Park, Middlesex in 1775-6 (H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, New York, 1980, vol. II, fig. 92). However, the sweep of the arms and overall profile compares to another suite thought to have been executed for Langley Hall (now Park), Norfolk by Thomas Chippendale (d. 1779) and his son Thomas Chippendale Junior (d.1822). Four chairs from this set were sold anonymously, at Christie's, London, 9 July 1992, lot 70 (illustrated R. Edwards and P. Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, rev. edn, 1954, vol. I, p. 291, fig. 207) . Certainly, the constructional details of cut-cramps and the exposed back strut on the present set were techniques known to have been used by Chippendale's workshop and other prominent makers.