£2,000
A set of seven George III painted beech chairs, attributed to Gillows, c1800, the tablet with Juno in her chariot en grisaille, flanked by spandrels, the uprights with spiralling foliage, the stuffed over seat above rails and legs, with flutes and stringing, the set including a pair of elbow chairs, seat height 46cm, one stamped I B
Provenance: Supplied to John Leicester, 1st Baron De Tabley (1762-1827) for his London house in Hill Street, Berkeley Square or Tabley House, Cheshire; thence by descent to the present vendors and latterly at Davenport House, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
Illustrated: Photographed in situ in the former Entrance Hall of Tabley House, Cheshire for the article in Country Life 28 July 1923. Image also reproduced Hussey (C) - English Country Houses Mid Georgian 1760-1800, ACC edition, vol II, 1988 fig. 97
The design of these chairs, following closely that of Gillows 'Clifton's pattern' a set made for John Clifton of Lytham Hall in 1796 was also supplied to other Lancashire gentry (see Stuart (S E) - Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840, 2008, vol I, pp. 196-7).
Gillows certainly supplied furniture to the 1st Baron de Tabley, as did other furniture makers of the period. The maker's stamp 'IH' is recorded on the seat rail of two of Gillows feather and drapery pattern chairs of the late 1780's and others throughout the 1790's. Three Gillows workmen shared the same initials, the most likely maker perhaps John Harrison, who is recorded as making "numerous chairs for Gillows".
Although much overpainted, Gillows painted chairs in a similarly distinctive green palette are known (Stuart, op cit, plates 116-8 and vol II, pp250-1)
Localised or more extensive old worm damage to seat rails. Several pairs of the mushroom finials on the backs old replacements; old re-decoration, scratched and worn
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