Furniture, Clocks & Works of Art
Furniture, Clocks & Works of Art
A pair of Chinese Export hardwood armchairs, probably Canton, circa 1760
Auction Closed
November 9, 01:23 PM GMT
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A pair of Chinese Export hardwood armchairs
probably Canton, circa 1760
in late George II style, the pierced interlaced backsplat carved with eagle heads with outswept scrolled armrests, the drop-in seat on acanthus carved cabriole claw and ball front feet
RELATED LITERATURE
Carl L. Crossman, The Decorative Arts of the China Trade: Paintings, furnishings and exotic curiosities, Woodbridge, 1991, pp. 220-234.
These chairs are a wonderful example of hardwood furniture manufactured in Canton for export which were modelled after English designs or prototypes. Furniture of this type was probably made to special order, perhaps for a member of the British East India Company posted in China or other company outposts. Interestingly, the design of the interlaced back splat - with scrolls terminating in eagle's heads - relates to a number of examples of Irish origin (see those illustrated The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, Yale University Press, 2007, p. 213, figs. 38 & 39).