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Lot Essay
With its cabriole legs and outscrolled arms in the 'French' taste, this chair is enriched in the 'Director' fashion with acanthus and cabochon carving, popularised by the publication of Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754 (pl. XVIII-XIX). In its form, shape and carving it can be related to a table and two suites of seat furniture supplied to John Spencer, later 1st Earl Spencer, for either Spencer House, London, Althorp, Northamptonshire or Wimbledon Park, Surrey, now at Althorp, with some pieces sold recently, The Spencer House sale, Christie's London, 8 July 2010, lots 1036, 1040, 1042 & 1043. The Althorp furniture has been attributed to the Soho Square cabinet-maker Paul Saunders based on the near identical form and ornament of the library table to one supplied to Thomas, 3rd Viscount Weymouth, for Longleat, Wiltshire, who paid Saunders two substantial payments in 1757 and 1759.
Paul Saunders was one of the most important suppliers of fashionable upholstered furniture of the 1750s and 1760s, as well as holding the position Tapestry Maker to His Majesty George III from 1757. Around 1751 he formed an association and partnership with George Smith Bradshaw, and possibly also his brother William Bradshaw, already established and with an impressive clientele. Based around Carlisle House, Soho Square and 59 Greek Street, Saunders established a substantial workshop employing as many as 37 workmen. Primarily upholsterers and cabinet-makers, the company also supplied tapestries for Holkham and Petworth. Throughout his career Saunders enjoyed the patronage of many of the most high profile clients both in London and the country. Early in his partnership he was employed at Mansion House and from 1755-58 at Holkham, supplying furniture, upholstery fabric and bed furniture for the 1st Earl of Leicester. He appears to have worked for the Earl and Countess of Egremont at Petworth over a period of nearly twenty years from as early as 1748, and from 1765 until his death in 1771 he carried out work for the Duke of Bedford at both Woburn and at Bedford House, London. He worked for Sir John Griffin Griffin at Audley End, Essex from 1765 where his fellow cabinet-makers John Gordon and Richard Taitt were also later employed.
Paul Saunders was one of the most important suppliers of fashionable upholstered furniture of the 1750s and 1760s, as well as holding the position Tapestry Maker to His Majesty George III from 1757. Around 1751 he formed an association and partnership with George Smith Bradshaw, and possibly also his brother William Bradshaw, already established and with an impressive clientele. Based around Carlisle House, Soho Square and 59 Greek Street, Saunders established a substantial workshop employing as many as 37 workmen. Primarily upholsterers and cabinet-makers, the company also supplied tapestries for Holkham and Petworth. Throughout his career Saunders enjoyed the patronage of many of the most high profile clients both in London and the country. Early in his partnership he was employed at Mansion House and from 1755-58 at Holkham, supplying furniture, upholstery fabric and bed furniture for the 1st Earl of Leicester. He appears to have worked for the Earl and Countess of Egremont at Petworth over a period of nearly twenty years from as early as 1748, and from 1765 until his death in 1771 he carried out work for the Duke of Bedford at both Woburn and at Bedford House, London. He worked for Sir John Griffin Griffin at Audley End, Essex from 1765 where his fellow cabinet-makers John Gordon and Richard Taitt were also later employed.