Lot Essay
The sophisticated chair back pattern relates closely to a set with gilt-enriched carving. One of the chairs is illustrated in H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the Eighteenth Century, New York, n.d. (c.1920), vol.II, p.26, fig.8 while a pair from the suite was sold in these Rooms, 19 April 2001, lot 225.
Percival G. Griffiths formed a remarkable assemblage of mid-Georgian furniture in the early part of the 20th century under the advice of the great furniture historian R.W. Symonds. Griffiths met the young Symonds in 1910 and soon thereafter his fame as a collector was established. The many articles and books that Symonds published throught the next few decades illustrated pieces from the Griffiths collection. Mr. Vander Poel was fully aware of the significance of the Griffiths provenance when he purchased this chair.
Percival G. Griffiths formed a remarkable assemblage of mid-Georgian furniture in the early part of the 20th century under the advice of the great furniture historian R.W. Symonds. Griffiths met the young Symonds in 1910 and soon thereafter his fame as a collector was established. The many articles and books that Symonds published throught the next few decades illustrated pieces from the Griffiths collection. Mr. Vander Poel was fully aware of the significance of the Griffiths provenance when he purchased this chair.