ATTRIBUTED TO GILLOWS, CIRCA 1790

This chair pattern with distinctive drapery and feather-carved back was introduced by Gillows of Lancaster in 1787, for Croxton Johnson Esq., of Timperley, Cheshire, described as 'ten handsome mahogany chairs carved backs (plumes of feathers) with drapery tapered, legs fluted', and this may be the same design that Gillows supplied to Samuel Birch of Manchester, six chairs in the summer of 1787 and twenty more in the following months. The design proved extremely popular and there were many variations on the pattern. The present chairs are executed in Gillows typically fine quality mahogany with marquetry decoration, but painted chairs were also supplied, sometimes with the feathers replaced with a painted vase of flowers (Susan Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730 - 1840, Woodbridge, 2008, vol. I, pp. 160 - 163, pl. 112 - 118).
A pair of mahogany armchairs of the same pattern was sold anonymously Christie's, New York, 18 October 2001, lot 306 ($9,987.50 including premium), while another pair with painted decoration was sold Christie's, London, 16 September 2004, lot 81 (£5,377.50 including premium).