THE SIDE CHAIRS, GEORGE II, CIRCA 1750, THE ARMCHAIRS, MODERN

There are two known matching settees from the Kateshill suite. One was offered in the 1990 Christie's sale (lot 65) and subsequently sold, 4 July 1991, lot 62; another was owned by Benjamin Edwards. One of the pair is illustrated in a number of old publications, the earliest dating to 1897 (K.W. Clouston The Chippendale Period in English Furniture, London, fig. 25 where it mentions the matching chairs). At that time, the suite belonged to Mrs. McClure who likely perpetuated the myth that this was the early work of Thomas Chippendale and supplied to the Bury family at Kateshill. In fact, the mid-Georgian brick house of Kateshill was built for the coal merchant Thomas Cartwright about whom little is known. In 1870, Kateshill was indeed sold to John Bury who was then living at neighboring Tickenhill Manor house. Originally called Hill House, Kateshill was renamed in the 19th century for Catherine of Aragon who lived on the grounds during her proxy marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales (after his death she would marry his younger brother, King Henry VIII). The house was subsequently sold by Bury in 1900 to a Roger Brinton. Four of the chairs, together with the settee, were sold by the McClures from their London home (located in the ground floor drawing rooms) in the Phillips auction of 1923.

The charming details of carving including eagle heads and sunflower, together with the shape of the back legs indicate a cabinet-maker working in the north of England or possibly Ireland.