A pair of George III giltwood armchairs attributed to William & John Linnell

Stock Code: 2243

Description: A superb pair of George III carved giltwood armchairs attributed to William & John Linnell. The moulded oval shaped backs with acanthus and draped swag crest to the top rail and leaf carving to the lower side supports. The arms out-swept with beautiful leaf carved shoulders, stuffed elbow rests, with more extremely detailed leaf carving to the top and bottom of the scrolling arm support, which itself has a rope twist carve along the front edge. The seat of oval shape, with a carved rope twist all around the edge, the front legs with a leaf carved hip and of tapering fluted form with further leaf carving to the top and an oval tapered foot. The rear legs of similar form to the front but set at an elegant raked angle. A fabulous pair of chairs.

Further Information: These chairs closely resemble a set supplied by the Linnells to Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn of 20 St James Square, London in circa 1775. The chairs offered here are a superior model with more carved detailing to the top of the legs, the base of the arms, the base of the seat back and to the crest on the top of the seat back. A model seemingly made for an extremely important client and also bearing in mind their excellent condition, have had a life of light and careful use.

John Linnell was the son of the furniture maker William Linnell and one of the first English furniture makers to be educated in design, studying at the Saint Martin's Lane Academy that had previously been founded by William Hogarth. In 1762 he started working closely with Robert Adam, and in 1763 with the death of his father he took over the running of the family firm. These two combining factors pushed his work in a new classical direction. His many and varied works rivalled those of other leading furniture makers such as Thomas Chippendale, Mayhew and Ince, Robert Adam and John Cobb for aesthetic beauty and taste. Most importantly it was the re-introduction of marquetry into English furniture manufacture that William and more importantly John Linnell championed and that they felt revived the neo-classical ideals.

Condition: Excellent. Joints tightened, gilding partially refreshed. Re-covered in a wine coloured silk damask fabric.

Country of Origin: England

Origin/Age: English, George III, circa 1775

Provenance: Private collection New York.

Maker: Attributed to William & John Linnell

Dimensions: Height 37.00 inches (93.98cm) Width 24.00 inches (60.96cm) Depth 26.00 inches (66.04cm)

Price: £39,900

Price: ¥

Price: €

Price: $