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Lot Essay
The chairs are designed in the 'French' taste promoted by Thomas Chippendale in his Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, and relate to a design in the third edition, 1762, pl. XXX.
They bear close comparison with the suite supplied by Chippendale in 1766 to Sir Lawrence Dundas for the Long Drawing Room at 19 Arlington Street, which comprised ten chairs and three sofas, which was sold by the Marquess of Zetland in the Arlington Street sale, 26 April 1934 and was purchased by Messrs. Harris, who subsequently sold the suite to the Earl and Countess of Rosse for Birr Castle, Ireland.
A related suite of French styled seat furniture featuring a similar shell or palm-flower motif on the seat rail was supplied by Chippendale to the actor David Garrick for the Blue Bedroom at Hampton Villa in 1768, a suite subsequently sold from the Property of the Estate of Mary, Viscountess Rothermere, Christie's, New York, 16 April 1994, lots 142 and 143.
A limewood sofa corresponding to the chairs offered here, and possibly from the same suite, was sold anonymously Christie's, New York, 9 April 2003, lot 155 ($45,410 including premium).
They bear close comparison with the suite supplied by Chippendale in 1766 to Sir Lawrence Dundas for the Long Drawing Room at 19 Arlington Street, which comprised ten chairs and three sofas, which was sold by the Marquess of Zetland in the Arlington Street sale, 26 April 1934 and was purchased by Messrs. Harris, who subsequently sold the suite to the Earl and Countess of Rosse for Birr Castle, Ireland.
A related suite of French styled seat furniture featuring a similar shell or palm-flower motif on the seat rail was supplied by Chippendale to the actor David Garrick for the Blue Bedroom at Hampton Villa in 1768, a suite subsequently sold from the Property of the Estate of Mary, Viscountess Rothermere, Christie's, New York, 16 April 1994, lots 142 and 143.
A limewood sofa corresponding to the chairs offered here, and possibly from the same suite, was sold anonymously Christie's, New York, 9 April 2003, lot 155 ($45,410 including premium).