This elegant pair of armchairs are derived in form from drawings in George Hepplewhite's The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, Third Ed., 1794, pl.4, in which he illustrates similar chairs. Another comparative design dating to 1788 by the firm of Gillow is illustrated in L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs, 1760-1800, 1995, fig. 273.
A pair of very similar chairs, having upholstered seats rather than the caned seats present on the current lot are illustrated in L. Synge, Great English Furniture, London, 1991, p. 126, fig. 143.