A PAIR OF REGENCY POLYCHROME-DECORATED SIMULATED BAMBOO TUB BERGERES

The bergeres, with orb-capped and Grecian-scrolled legs, relate to the bedroom-apartment 'Curricle' chairs, which Gillow of London and Lancaster were manufacturing in 1812, and named after a pattern in Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, 1803 (N.Goodison and J. Hardy, Gillows at Tatton Park, Furniture History, 1970, pl.16a). Their Chinese rails of 'faux' bamboo relate to furnishings supplied in 1803 by the court cabinet-makers Messrs. Elward, Marsh & Tatham for the Marine Pavilion, Brighton of George, Prince of Wales, later George IV (G.Walkling, Antique Bamboo Furniture, London, 1979, p.27, fig 17).