Fine George III Sheraton period mahogany occasional chair, in the manner of Gillows.

English, c. 1797

Made of solid high quality mahogany throughout, having the floral carved tablet crestrail, above a pierced vertical splat and oval caned seat, raised on turned and reeded tapering fore legs, with fluted and achanthus-wrapped capitals, and turned tapering back supports, all joined by a turned X-frame stretcher.

This elegant parlour chair, with 'tablet' back and 'medallion' seat, reflects the George III 'Roman' fashion, promoted in the 1770’s by architects such as James Wyatt (d. 1813); while its pillared and antique-fluted back relates to chair patterns in George Hepplewhite's Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer's Guide, 1788. The design for this chair, with 'cabled' legs, featured in Gillows' 1797 Estimate Sketch Book, was created for Sir Robert Peel, the father of Britain’s future Prime Minister (L. Boynton, Gillow Furniture Designs 1760-1800, fig. 286), and echoes other Gillows chair designs (ditto, colour plates 28-30).

For related examples please see Christie’s, 29 April 2010, Lot 86; and 16 September 2004, Lot 30.