Lot Essay
George II's reign witnessed the proliferation of such railed and pagoda-crested chairs in both the 'picturesque' Chinese tea pavilions of the landscaped parks as well as in fashionable bedroom apartments hung in Chinese flowered papers (see W. and J. Halfpenny, Rural Architecture in the Chinese Taste, 1751-2). The single armchair pattern, with plain central lozenged compartment, relates to one of Thomas Chippendale's 1750s 'Chinese Chair' patterns 'proper for lady's Dressing Rooms', which he hoped would 'improve that Taste, or Manner of work, it never having yet arrived to any Perfection' (T. Chippendale The Gentleman and Cabinet-Makers Director, 1754 (pl. 24- right side). Four armchairs of the present pattern are displayed in a Chinese-papered apartment at Saltram, Devon (C. Johnson, Saltram, 2005, pp.35 and 36).