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Lot Essay
Nicholas Morel is recorded as supplying upholstery to the Prince of Wales for Carlton House as early as 1790. Possibly of French origin, Morel was one of the Prince of Wales' architect Henry Holland's (d. 1806) stable of cabinet makers, supplying work in the newly fashionable French style. During the opening years of the 19th century, Morel formed various partnerships and thus the name of his business varied. He is thought to have formed the partnership with Robert Hughes circa 1806 which lasted until 1826, being succeeded in 1827 by his partnership with George Seddon to supply the furniture for George IV at Windsor Castle. In addition to that for Carlton House, Morel also produced furniture under Holland for his celebrated interiors at Southill, Bedfordshire.
Holland was employed at Southill between 1796 and 1800 to rebuild, decorate and furnish the house for the politician and heir to the Whitbread brewing fortune, Samuel Whitbread II (d. 1815) and today it is recognised as one of the greatest surviving interiors of its time. This chair bears a strong correlation with the set of four chairs supplied by Holland for the Drawing Room; the profiles of the chairs are identical, of particular note is the bold shaping of the back, whilst the palm motif to the top of the rear leg is employed on other chairs in the same room (see F.J.B. Watson, 'The Furniture and Decoration', Southill A Regency House, London, 1951, p. 29, figs. 18, 46 & 50). Other closely related chairs attributed to Morel & Hughes include those supplied for George IV at Windsor Castle, the Duke of Northumberland at Northumberland House, The Strand, and the Duke of Devonshire at Devonshire House, Piccadilly. A pair of chairs of identical design were sold, Sotheby's New York, 7 April 2004, lot 191 ($20,400 incl.).
Professor Sir Albert Richardson, P.R.A., was an ardent devotee of the work of Henry Holland, working at several Houses on which he worked, such as Woburn Abbey and Oakley House, as well as contributing the architectural chapter to his friend Major Samuel Whitbread's book Southill, A Regency House. As evidenced by this and the following lot (as well as others in the sale), this was an interest which also permeated his collection and it is possible that these lots come from one of Holland's Bedfordshire commissions.
Holland was employed at Southill between 1796 and 1800 to rebuild, decorate and furnish the house for the politician and heir to the Whitbread brewing fortune, Samuel Whitbread II (d. 1815) and today it is recognised as one of the greatest surviving interiors of its time. This chair bears a strong correlation with the set of four chairs supplied by Holland for the Drawing Room; the profiles of the chairs are identical, of particular note is the bold shaping of the back, whilst the palm motif to the top of the rear leg is employed on other chairs in the same room (see F.J.B. Watson, 'The Furniture and Decoration', Southill A Regency House, London, 1951, p. 29, figs. 18, 46 & 50). Other closely related chairs attributed to Morel & Hughes include those supplied for George IV at Windsor Castle, the Duke of Northumberland at Northumberland House, The Strand, and the Duke of Devonshire at Devonshire House, Piccadilly. A pair of chairs of identical design were sold, Sotheby's New York, 7 April 2004, lot 191 ($20,400 incl.).
Professor Sir Albert Richardson, P.R.A., was an ardent devotee of the work of Henry Holland, working at several Houses on which he worked, such as Woburn Abbey and Oakley House, as well as contributing the architectural chapter to his friend Major Samuel Whitbread's book Southill, A Regency House. As evidenced by this and the following lot (as well as others in the sale), this was an interest which also permeated his collection and it is possible that these lots come from one of Holland's Bedfordshire commissions.