Lee Wright Antiques and Interiors

Description

A Rare, Very Interesting Late 18th Century English Formal Armchair, Probably by John Linnell, in Paint and Parcel Gilding.

This lovely chair is a highly refined example of the salon or drawing room chair, influenced by French Louis XVI models, that became the height of fashion in the wealthiest homes in England in the late 18th century. Armchairs of this type are particularly associated with interiors designed by Robert Adam and James Wyatt with both architects designing subtle variations on the basic theme for each client. This particular chair is almost certainly the product of the Linnell workshops. Based in Berkeley Square in London, the Linnells catered to clients up and down the length and breadth of the British Isles with particularly notable commissions including Kedleston in Derbyshire, Osterley Park near Heathrow and Inveraray Castle in Scotland.

Our chair has several features associated with the Linnell workshops. The particularly slim and elegant proportions of the arms, the carved floral accent on the top of the head rail and the tapering leaf carved arm supports and collars on the legs are all features seen on documented Linnell chairs of this sort. Our chair relates to several drawings for armchairs by Linnell preserved in the V&A, particularly the image seen bottom left here:



The central floral subject on the front seat rail and the carved paterae on the blocks are beautifully detailed and the leafy terminals where the arms meet the back are beautiful. The chair is in wonderful condition with nicely aged gilding and paint.