A pair of oak hall benches late 19th century

The firm of James Shoolbred & Co., was established circa 1870, later expanding to become one of the first great department stores in London on Tottenham Court Road. The firm was reknowned for standards of quality and was issued with a Royal warrant in the mid 1880s. Each of these benches bears a Patent Office Design Registry mark for 15th December 1869.

A pair of hall seats of the same model, likewise attributed to Shoolbred & Co., formerly in the collection of Mary, Viscountess Rothermere, sold Christie`s, New York, 16th April 1994, lot 150, a pair sold Sotheby`s New York, 18th October 1997, lot 345 and another pair Sotheby`s London, 12th February 1999, lot 21 with as provenance of Drumbanagher, County Armagh.