Object Description
A fine set of six (4 side chairs + 2 armchairs) black lacquered and gilt-brass mounted dining chairs of Grecian-revival ‘Klismos’ form, by John Gee of London,
Circa 1810.
With turned and curved top-rail above a pair of pierced mid-rails centred with gilt-brass ‘English Rose’ paterae, the armchairs with scrolled arms terminating in reeded brass paterae, above the caned seats, raised on well-drawn sabre legs.
These black-japanned and cane-seated chairs, with Grecian boldly curved legs and gilt-brass paterae, are designed in the French antique fashion popularised by Thomas Hope and Henry Holland. Their superbly curved ‘Sabre’ legs derive from the Greek ‘Klismos’ chair, an epic timeless design, already popular in circa 400 BC, while the lustrous black japanning evoke the then newly fashionable fascination with Ancient Egypt.
Some of the chairs from the set are stamped JG – the brand of the Wardour Street chair-maker John Gee, who was established in Soho in 1799. He was described as ‘Chairmaker and Turner to His Majesty’ and his firm was granted a Royal Warrant in 1804 (C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, Leeds, 1996, p. 29 and figs. 380 and 390).
Virtually identical pair of side chairs with ivory paterae, similarly stamped and branded ‘Althorp’, originally supplied to 2nd Earl Spencer around 1810, was sold at Christie’s London, 7 July 1994, lot 118.
Few examples of other models almost certainly from the same workshop, slightly different but closely related to these chairs, similarly black-japanned and mounted with ivory paterae, still remain at Althorp, South Drawing Room.
Measurements
Armchairs:
Width: 21.75 in / 55 cm
Depth: 24.5 in / 62 cm
Height: 33.25 in / 84.5 cm
Seat Height: 17 in / 43 cm
Single chairs:
Width: 17.75 in / 45 cm
Depth: 22.5 in / 57 cm
Height: 32.5 in / 82.5 cm
Seat Height: 17 in / 43 cm