Lee Wright Antiques and Interiors

Description

A fine regency mahogany bergère library armchair in the manner of gillows c.1825.

This form of library chair with caned panels is known as a bergère and, due to examples that were supplied to Ashburnham Place and to the Earl of Uxbridge, the Gillows estimate sketch books refer to related patterns of chairs as Ashburnham or Uxbridge models respectively. They were first supplied by the firm in 1803 and proved to be extremely popular. It is unusual for these chairs to feature carving on the crest rails to the back and our example also features fluted uprights.
The front legs and arm supports are finely turned and the back legs have a rather exaggerated curve which is both dramatic and attractive without compromising the structural stability of the chair.