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Lot Essay
The scrolling decoration in low relief on these chairs imitates English examples of the period, carved in gesso on a gilt surface. The chairs were produced in Canton for export under European supervision and often bear Chinese characters. Similar sets remain at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, Wilton House, Wiltshire and a single chair at Temple Newsam House, Leeds. This model is also in the Richard Milhender Collection and is illustrated in C.L. Crossman, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade, Woodbridge, 1991, p.230, pl.83.
Two large sets of this model have sold at auction, including a set of fifteen chairs from the Late Mrs. B.L. Urquhart, Christie's, London, 20 May 1971, lot 77, and a set of twelve chairs and a matching double chair back settee were sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 16 November 1995, lots 52 and 53. A further set of six was sold from the Collection of Lily and Edmond J. Safra, Sotheby's, New York, 3 November 2005, lot 179, and another pair was sold anonymously at Christie's, New York, 21 January 1999, lot 554.
Two large sets of this model have sold at auction, including a set of fifteen chairs from the Late Mrs. B.L. Urquhart, Christie's, London, 20 May 1971, lot 77, and a set of twelve chairs and a matching double chair back settee were sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 16 November 1995, lots 52 and 53. A further set of six was sold from the Collection of Lily and Edmond J. Safra, Sotheby's, New York, 3 November 2005, lot 179, and another pair was sold anonymously at Christie's, New York, 21 January 1999, lot 554.