A PAIR OF GEORGE III GILTWOOD ARMCHAIRS ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS CHIPPENDALE

An important pair of mid 18th century period giltwood armchairs attributed to Thomas Chippendale, having cartouche shaped padded backs with leaf cresting, padded arms on moulded supports, and serpentine shaped seats upholstered in fine 18th century silk needlework, above a fluted frieze with floral paterae, on turned tapering fluted legs with gadrooned collars. A related set of chairs was supplied by Chippendale to Harwood House in Yorkshire, sharing not only similarities in design but also the same distinct construction features of cramp cuts, baton holes and vertical exposed back strut.

Literature: Ralph Edwards & Percy Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, revised edition, vol. I , London 1954, p. 291, fig. 208.
Christopher Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, vol. II, London 1978, p.111, illus 190.
Lanto Synge, Chairs, London 1978, pp. 38/9. Lanto Synge, ‘Great English Furniture’, London 1991, p.137.