A set of twelve Regency white and gilt-painted beech dining chairs, by John Gee early 19th century

eleven stamped Gee / GJ, with carved baluster and bar top-rails over caned rectangular splats and cane seats between moulded uprights and sabre legs, redecorated and with variations to white and gilt decoration, some damage one stamped W.P. another T.H.



John Gee, Turner and Chair Maker to His Majesty (George III) of 49, Wardour Street, London.

Ordered by William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire (1748-1811), as part of his refurnishing of Devonshire House, supervised by James Wyatt

There is a single chair photographed in the Red Drawing Room at Devonshire House at the end of the 19th century. These were clearly useful occasional chairs of high quality which meant they could be placed throughout the State Rooms at Devonshire House;
David Pearce, London's Mansions, 1986, p. 150, pl. 111 illustrates part of this set in the Ballroom of Devonshire House in the early part of 20th century;
John Cornforth, Chatsworth, Derbyshire VIII, Country Life, August 29, 1968, p. 500;
Simon Upton, Private Chatsworth, The World of Interiors, October 2001, p. 242;
The Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth -The House, London, 2002, pp. 178-180, Some of the set are illustrated in the Private Dining Room;
John Cornforth, Early Georgian Interiors, Yale, 2004, p. 43, illustrated in the Private Dining Room

The Dowager writes (op cit, p. 179) Our Dining Room. Hans Eworth's Henry VIII, circa 1567, looks at the Devonshire House table and chairs

One lacking top rail. One lacking cane Seat. One re-railed. Otherwise the set is in good order with some light chips and scratches throughout. The chair with the missing top rail has more gilded decoration than the others but this decoration is also more worn which suggests that this is the original decorative scheme. Very decorative.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

John Gee is first recorded in 1779, when he entered into partnership with Benjamin Crompton Turner in Ordinary to George III. In 1787 Gee was appointed Turner to the King and, although he retired from active business around 1824, he retained his royal warrant for a further seven years. In addition to his work for the Crown and the Duke of Devonshire, Gee undertook commissions for other distinguished aristocratic patrons such as the Earl of Wilton, for whom he supplied a set of chairs for the celebrated circular Music Room at Heaton Hall, Lancashire, in 1790 built by James Wyatt.