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Lot Essay
This impressive set of four armchairs relates closely to a suite of seat furniture of circa 1770-1775 attributed to furniture-maker John Linnell (H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, p.44, figs.84-85), one armchair of which is now preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (fig.1). The attribution is based on similarities to features found in a Linnell drawing of circa 1768-1770 (op cit. p.43, fig.83). The swags to the tops of the legs emulate fashionable Louis XVI furniture, and were also utilized by Linnell in ormolu, notably on games tables supplied to both the Duke of Northumberland for Alnwick Castle and Viscount Scarsdale for Kedleston Hall (op cit. pp. 141-143, figs. 279-281). Similarly, the fluting of the seat-rails and bell-flower carving is mirrored in the marquetry designs found on Linnell's case furniture of this period. A pair of very similar armchairs was sold Christie’s, New York, 8 April 2004, lot 290.
John Linnell (1729-1796) was one of the first English furniture-makers to be educated in design, studying at St. Martin's Lane Academy, founded by William Hogarth in 1735. By the age of 21 Linnell was working as a designer for his father William’s furniture-making business. One of John Linnell’s first jobs there was on Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort’s Chinese Bedroom at Badminton House. This commission, some of which is preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has come to represent an extremely important moment in the history of English furniture design and the exotic. Linnell’s high quality furniture was greatly prized in its day and his work was considered amongst the best of British design, rivaling such leading makers as Thomas Chippendale, John Cobb and Ince & Mayhew. Many of John Linnell’s designs are also preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
John Linnell (1729-1796) was one of the first English furniture-makers to be educated in design, studying at St. Martin's Lane Academy, founded by William Hogarth in 1735. By the age of 21 Linnell was working as a designer for his father William’s furniture-making business. One of John Linnell’s first jobs there was on Charles Somerset, 4th Duke of Beaufort’s Chinese Bedroom at Badminton House. This commission, some of which is preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, has come to represent an extremely important moment in the history of English furniture design and the exotic. Linnell’s high quality furniture was greatly prized in its day and his work was considered amongst the best of British design, rivaling such leading makers as Thomas Chippendale, John Cobb and Ince & Mayhew. Many of John Linnell’s designs are also preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum.