The Grecian sofas, celebrate the sun and poetry-deity Apollo, and are designed in the French antique fashion promoted around 1800 by the connoisseur Thomas Hope (d. 1842) and popularised through his guide to his museum mansion, Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808. Their flowered frames derive from Hope's 'lararium' settee, their triumphal palm-flowered 'acroteria' legs derive from his foot-stool; while their golden bas-reliefs include Apollo's sacred griffin and derive from one of his tables (pls. XVIII no. 5, XXIX no. 3 and XV no 4.)
This form of scroll-ended day bed or 'Chaise Longue' corresponds to a pattern published in George Smith's Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, London, 1808, plate 63. A daybed (similar to the one with enclosed back) was sold anonymously, in these Rooms, 3 July 1997, lot 144 (£8,625).