A pair of George III satinwood and ebonised armchairs

A pair of George III satinwood and mahogany armchairs decorated with traces of ebonised stringing, the square framed upholstered backs flanked by columnar supports capped by carved finials, the down swept arms on turned baluster supports, with turned front and squared back swept legs.

The design for this pair of armchairs or bergères are close in comparison to the output of Thomas Chippendale junior at the beginning of the 19th century. He was the eldest son of the famous Thomas Chippendale senior who founded the family's cabinet-making firm in 1750. Thomas junior continued the business for over forty years and was particularly drawn to the latest fashion for neo-classicism across the Channel, the gôut grec.

Chippendale junior may well have accompanied his father on trips to France. In November 1769 his father was apprehended by customs importing unfinished French chair frames from France. The desire for French design, in particular seen in the seat furniture of the menuisier, Georges Jacob, (1739-1814) can be seen in the overall rectilinear profile of this pair of chairs. The unfussy geometrical shape with a square back, a turned front leg and armrests placed over the legs at the fore-edge of the seat rail all closely resemble French examples.