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Lot Essay
George II's reign witnessed the proliferation of such railed and pagoda-crested chairs in both the 'picturesque' Chinese tea pavilions of the landscaped parks as well as in fashionable bedroom apartments hung in Chinese flowered papers (see W. and J. Halfpenny, Rural Architecture in the Chinese Taste, 1751-2). This armchair pattern relates to one of Thomas Chippendale's 1750s 'Chinese Chair' patterns 'proper for lady's Dressing Rooms,' which he hoped would 'improve that Taste, or Manner of work, it never having yet arrived to any Perfection' (T. Chippendale, The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Director, 1762 (pl. XXVII). A side chair from a related suite is illustrated L. Synge, Great English Furniture, London, 1991, p. 121, fig. 135.