A Rare Pair of George III Japanned Hall Stools Circa 1765

retaining the original white-japanned decoration to the curved seats, possibly later painted in polychrome with the motto PATRIA CARA CARIOR LIBERTAS and the arms of Jacob Bouverie, 3^{rd Bt., and his second wife Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Lord Romney.}

Good restored condition, restorations and inpainting to painted decoration throughout, age cracks to both seats at ends, arms possibly repaintede, repaired breaks to scrolled supports above legs on one, repaired break to one scrolled support above leg on the other, all with inpainting, minor worm damage, reinforcing to undersides of stretchers.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present stools were designed to be placed as part of the furnishings of an entrance hall and almost certainly were part of a larger suite. Their conjoined C-scroll supports are related both to those published by Robert Manwaring in The Cabinet and Chair-Maker's Real Friend and Companion, 1765, pl. 18, 'Lady's Dressing Stools', and William Ince and John Mayhew, The Universal System of Household Furniture, 1762, pl. XXIV, 'Lady's Dressing Stools'. Although bearing the arms of Jacob Bouverie and his wife Elizabeth, they depict his arms before he was advanced in 1747 to Lord Longford, Baron of Longford and Viscount Folkestone, this date being some twenty years before the actual date of the stools. As noted below, an identical pair of stools painted with the correct Bouverie arms born by his son who was created 1st Earl of Radnor, was formerly in the collection of Bill Blass, and which had a Coleshill provenance, one of the family seats.   

The present stools are identical in design to a single stool in ash and walnut, which was originally painted, which sold together with a later copy, Christie's, London, April 6, 2000, lot 37, and another painted pair with slight differences to the carved detail which was  sold Christie's, New York, October 13, 1995, lot 321. Another identical pair which was formerly at Coleshill House, Berkshire, also decorated with the arms of Bouverie en grisaille, was sold Sotheby's, New York, October 21-23, 2003, lot 238, The Bill Blass Collection. These arms were, however, of a different form to that found on the present stools, having eagle supporters and being surmounted by a coronet.

Two pairs of walnut stools of similar form carved with the Radnor double-headed eagle crest were sold, Sotheby's, New York, January 23, 1988, lots 70 and 71.

See:
Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1953, vol. III, p. 182, fig. 67, the Coleshill stools.