A pair of Queen Anne walnut and marquetry side chairs, circa 1705, attributed to Thomas Roberts

the velvet upholstered backs on 'broken' cabriole legs with inlaid seaweed marquetry on hoof feet

Commissioned by Sir John Trevor, (c.1637-1717) for Trevor House, later Powis House, Knightsbridge and probably removed to Brynkinalt, Denbighshire in the mid-18^th century when Trevor House was given up and thence by descent at Brynkinalt.

Related Literature:
Beard and J. Cross, 'Thomas and Richard Roberts', Apollo, September 1998, pp. 46-48;
G. Beard, Upholsterers and Interior Furnishing in England 1530-1840, London 1997, p. 149 and fig. 167

A fine and rare pair of chairs in good conserved condition. The chairs have had their original tapestry covering replaced with red velvet. There are some minor conservations to the timber frieze to secure the veneer. With evidence of some minor old worm which appears to be no longer active. With some old marks and scratches commensurate with age and use.
"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."

Sir John Trevor, who probably commissioned this suite of furniture, given his role and his status at Court would have been aware of the latest fashions of the time and indeed have been in a position to commission work from Royal chair-makers, Thomas Roberts and his son and successor Richard.

This rare group of chairs are superb examples of the early 18th century cabinet-makers' craft. The well-chosen veneers are inlaid with elegant ‘seaweed’ marquetry. These ‘arabesque’ motifs are adapted from French sources, and recall inlaid work from the same period by important Parisian ebenistes. In particular the brass inlay or ‘buhl’ work made fashionable by Andre Charles Boulle (1642-1732) the most preeminent cabinet-maker working at that time in France.

The early use of the broken cabriole leg with this exaggerated ‘hoof’ foot has a strong architectural Baroque feel, again a distinct stylistic reference to work produced in France and by the best émigré craftsman working in London.

There is a small group of seat furniture of similar but varying design produced in the early 18^th century, illustrated by P Macquiod & R Edwards in The Dictionary of English Furniture, Vol. I, pp. 254 – 261.  These chairs predominantly feature back splats inlaid with ‘seaweed’ marquetry or padded needlework backs.  Macquoid and Edwards point to two possible cabinetmakers as the most likely authors of the examples they illustrate: Thomas Roberts and John Belchier.

The present chairs appear closest to the output of Thomas Roberts; their design is similar to a suite supplied to Sir Robert Walpole, later 1st Earl of Orford (d. 1745) by Roberts for Houghton Hall, Norfolk.  They too feature ‘broken’ cabriole legs ending in stylised hoof feet. This important suite comprised of twenty-three chairs and two sofas, eight of which were for the 'Cov'd or Wrought Bedchamber ' and the remainder for the 'Cabinett', two important rooms at the house. Two pairs of chairs from the Houghton suite were sold in the Houghton sale, Christie’s London, 8th December 1994, lots 126 and 127. Both Thomas and Richard Roberts held the warrant as ‘Joiner to the Royal Household’ for over thirty years, from 1686-1729, and produced furniture for Whitehall, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court and Windsor Castle and even Royal yachts.

The Houghton chairs also relate to a further set upholstered with Italian cut velvet and supplied circa 1714-15 for Sir William Humphreys, Lord Mayor of London (R. Edwards, The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1964, p. 135, fig. 75). A further pair of chairs attributed to Richard Roberts (Thomas’ son who continued the family business) with almost identical legs formed part of the commission for Thomas Watson-Wentworth, 3^rd Baron Raby at Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire. Like Walpole, wealthy patrons with an eye for the very best in decorative and fine art available at that time. Clearly Sir John Trevor was acquiring the very best available to him for Powis House.

A further set of seat furniture worthy of mention and historically given to the workshop of John Belchier, was commissioned by John Bowes for Streatlam Castle, Durham. Known for his extensive commission at Erdigg Hall, Wrexham, Belchier supplied ‘mirror glasses, cabinet works and chairs’ of the highest quality. Sir John Trevor would have undoubtedly known about Belchier’s work for John Meller at Erdigg given the proximity between Erdigg and Brynkinalt, as well as the fact that Meller was a contemporary of Sir John’s in London, being Master of the Chancery at the beginning of the 18^th century.