A set of twelve Royal North Italian mahogany chairs by Henry Thomas Peters of Genoa circa 1835

each with an anthemion carved top-rail above two dolphins, the foliate carved back stretcher with a pierced scallopshell flanked by stylised swans above a later leather upholstered seat on spirally fluted front legs terminating in toupie feet on sabre back legs, each with various painted and stamped `P.P.R.' inventory marks and the printed paper label R Castello di Racconigi and dated 1933 and one chair inscribed `Racconigi cabinetto della Regina'

The Queen's Private Apartment, Castello Reale di Racconigi, Turin
Sold as lot 217, from the collection of S.A.R. La Principessa Reale Maria Gabriella di Savoia, Christie's, London, 27th June 2007. 

 

In overall very good conserved condition. A very attractive set with an important provenance. Most chairs have restored breaks to the joints between the top-rails and the uprights and two chairs have repaired breaks to the top of a front leg. Attractive detail to carving. A few, very minor, old marks and scratches throughout. Joints sound and sturdy.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Comparative Literature:
Enrico Colle, Il Mobile Impero in Italia, Arredi e Decorazioni d'Interni dal 1800 al 1843, Milan, 1998, pp. 380-383.
Enrico Colle, Gli inventari delle Corti, Le guardarobe reali in Italia dal XVI al XX secolo, Florence, 2004, p. 299.
Alvar González-Palacios, Il Mobile in Liguria, Genoa, 1996, pp. 330-332.

This unusual set of chairs with a Royal Provenance, although not stamped by Peters are very much in the style of this Genoese based maker. He worked in an English style in mahogany veneers and the dolphin and palmette were recurring motifs which can be seen on a chair illustrated by Colle, op. cit., p. 380. The aforementioned chair was at one time in the Studio of King Carlo Alberto on the second floor of Castello di Racconigi in Turin, after designs by Pelagio Palagi around 1834-1838.

There is a design for a chair with variants on the top-rail conceived in a similar vein to the offered chairs by Pelagio Palagi, (Biblioteca Communale dell' Archiginnasio (inv. n. 2782/112). A.G.P., op. cit., illustrates various mahogany pieces by Peters, see p. 331, plate 399, for a desk chair and plate 400, for a mahogany centre table on dolphin carved supports.

Henry Peters was a British cabinet-maker active in Genoa in the first half of the 19th century and made furniture in the English taste and combined the technical accuracy of British pieces which were then adapted to the late Italian Empire style. He was best known for his use of mahogany veneers and his most famous commission was the furniture for the State Rooms at Palazzo Reale in Genoa ordered for King Carlo Alberto around 1840-42.

See a suite of mahogany dining chairs stamped Peters Makers, Genoa sold Sotheby's, New York, 27th March 1992, lot 325.