18th Century English Mahogany Hall Chair, c. 1790

An outstanding pair of George II period hall armchairs in black walnut, of unusual 'Windsor' design.   England, circa 1740–50. Why we like them Items that are not merely quirky, but...

A very fine example of Regency period mahogany cartouche-back hall chair, of Gillows style and quality. Good antique condition, superb quality, colour and patination. Ready to be pla...

A fine pair of hall chairs of the Regency period, attributed to Thomas Banting and William France. England, circa 1820. Why we like them These fine hall chairs have a particularly elegant and sophisticated scrolled cartouche design of the backs, with the finest carving and figuring of the timber. Also of great colour and natural patination, these chairs are highly decorative and rare. Attribution The design of these chairs is identical to a set of hall chairs...

A pair of unusual early Georgian period walnut hall chairs of 'ladderback' design,  English, circa 1740. Why we like it A very rare example of vernacular design to be so superbly cr...

A very fine George III period Gainsborough armchair of superb quality and large scale, attributable to Wright and Elwick. English, circa 1760. Why we like it We love the imposing scale of this iconic design from the mid-18th century, superbly handcrafted and beautifully reupholstered in a luxurious Claremont silk damask. Provenance With a pre-1903 label underneath reading GEO TROLLOPE & SONS / BELGRAVE SQUARE, / LONDON, S.W.  Attribution This armchair relates to 'French Chair' designs in the George II picturesque manner illustrated in Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, London, 1754. The pattern relates closely to a suite of five library armchairs from Swinton in Yorkshire and now attributed to the Yorkshire cabinet-makers, Wright and Elwick, who were known to have worked for William Danby at Swinton in around 1775, and who were both subscribers to the first edition of the Director. The suite was sold by the Earl of Swinton and the Hon. Nicholas Cunliffe-Lister, from Swinton House, Masham, Yorkshire, in Christie's house sale, 20-21 October 1975, lot 17.  Wright and Elwick Established in 1747 by Richard Wright and Edward Elwick, this prolific partnership '[had] the honour to serve most of the Nobility & Gentry in the West and North Rideing' (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, eds., Dictionary of English Furniture-Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, pp. 1006-1008). Certainly, records indicate that they received patronage from such distinguished clients as Sir Rowland Winn at Nostell Priory, the Duke of Norfolk at Worksop Manor, Viscount Irwin at Temple Newsam House, John Spencer at Cannon Hall and most notably, the Marquess of Rockingham at Wentworth Woodhouse.  A pair of virtually identical armchairs is in the collestion of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. An identical armchair was sold Christie's, London, Ronald Phillips Ltd - Making Room, 2 July 2014, Lot 69. The design also corresponds to a chair in the collection at Southill, Bedfordshire (P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed., 1954, vol. I, p. 277, fig. 160). A pair of armchairs of this form was sold Christie’s New York, 19 October 2000, lot 100 ($182,000); a single chair of virtually identical form was sold Christie's London, 15 April 1999, lot 65; a further related pair was sold Sotheby's London, 5 July 1997, lot 58. George Trollope & Sons - Retailers The  firm, established in 1820 as 'paper hangers...

A stunning pair of Chinese Ming style side chairs or meiguiyi, with spindle-backs and solid seats. China, Qing dynasty, circa 1800–1900. Why we like them Their smart design, superb quality and richly patinated, original colour make these chairs a rare and desirable find, a versatile and decorative object, suitable for sleek and opulent interiors. This type of chair was popular in the Ming dynasty for its light construction and elegant appearance. Design and history The golden age of Chinese furniture spanned the Ming (1368-1644) to middle Qing (1644-1912) dynasties, when furniture suddenly leaped away from previous lacquered softwoods towards austere and refined pieces crafted from Southeast Asian hardwoods. The emphasis was on simplicity, often with little or no decoration, wonderful timber selection and complex mortise and tenon joinery. No nails were used, so pieces could be broken down and flat-packed for storage and travel. Zitan wood was favoured by the Imperial Palace, and lent itself to exceptionally fine carving. But honey-coloured and richly figured huanghuali was the favourite of the scholar officials who governed China. Those who could afford to, decorated their studios sparsely with just a few select and useful pieces of huanghuali furniture: a painting table, a pairs of open book cabinets, a highbacked armchair and a pair of side chairs, maybe an incense stand, a strange rock evoking a distant mountain, and a painting. In design and interior spacing they were the first true minimalists. For a brief discussion of the lowback armchair...

English Georgian Chippendale period mahogany hall chair, circa 1770.

Pair 18th-century English Hepplewhite armchairs complete with fine studded green damask upholstery. The pair feature serpentine front seats terminating with simple reeded legs suppor...

19th century English Regency mahogany hall chairs in the manner of Gillows, each with a scroll and shell carved back, on turned and ribbed front legs. Ver...

18th century Spanish colonial hall chair Hand-carved with gold leaf decoration Nail trim.

This is a very elegant, good quality Side or Dining Chair from the late 18th Century period, circa 1785. Camel back chairs of this date are popula...

A fine pair of antique hall chairs with carved relief decoration on the backs of a heraldic lion on top of a castle turret, likely English....