Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

Pair of Regency Chairs, attributed to George Bullock

About the Item

Collectors' choice - a very fine and rare Regency period pair of mahogany chairs, firmly attributed to George Bullock. England, circa 1815. Why we like them These superb quality, wonderfully stylish chairs, and having many unusual features such as octagonal back legs, reeded back supports, continuously veneered seat rails over legs at corner joints, almost certainly belong to the oeuvre of the celebrated London furniture designer and maker, George Bullock, most famous, perhaps, for furnishing Longwood House, Napoleon Bonaparte's St. Helena exile residence. Attribution A pair of virtually similar chairs, possibly from Moncrieffe House, Perthshire, Scotland, was illustrated in Blairman's 1999 catalogue. The design of the present chairs derives from the 'Tracings by Thomas Wilkinson, from the Designs of the late Mr George Bullock, 1820' (City Museums and Art Gallery,, Birmingham, M.3.74, p.22). The reeded back supports, and the unusual and distinctive chamfered and collared back legs, are features that can be seen on dining chairs supplied in 1815 by Bullock for Napoleon's use on St Helena (see Napoleon in Exile, Appendix 1, Nos. 8 & 9, and figs. 46 & 47).  Original, 'country house' condition. Original upholstery with traces of the original black horsehair covering. Later blocks to seat frame corners, one chair with repairs to back tablet. Dimensions: Height: 34 inches / 86.5 cm Width: 20.5 inches / 51 cm Depth: 19.5 inches / 49.5 cm Seat height: 18 inches / 46 cm
  • Attributed to:
    George Bullock (Designer)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Depth: 19.5 in (49.53 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Style:
    Regency (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1815
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Original, 'country house' condition. Original upholstery with traces of the original black horsehair covering. Later blocks to seat frame corners underneath, one chair with repairs to back tablet.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1781239129772
More From This SellerView All
  • A Pair of Klismos Chairs, Attributed to George Oakley - Eight Chairs Available
    By George Oakley
    Located in London, GB
    An exceptional pair of Regency period chairs, of well-shaped 'Klismos' outline and rare generous proportions, attributed to George Oakley of Bond Street. London, circa 1810. Four pairs available: to purchase a set 8 eight chairs, please, select quantity 4 pairs. Priced per pair. Why we like them: With its front legs unusually splayed in two dimensions, this elegant model is one the most sophisticated examples from the Regency period. Unusual in their form, subtle in ornamentation and outstanding in quality, these chairs display the decorative techniques of cabinetmaking, rather than joinery. The veneers and greek-key brass-inlays cover the seatrails and front legs joints, a highly unusual feature for chairs, that demonstrates the superb cabinetmaking skills of the craftsman or a high-end workshop origin. Attribution: Extremely rare with this 'double-splayed' form of front legs, deriving from the ancient Greek 'Klismos' seats, these chairs feature exquisite brass inlays throughout, and share similarities with a number of pieces of furniture traditionally associated with the oeuvre of George Oakley (1773-1840), one of the most prominent London cabinetmakers of the era. The distinctive scrolling foliage pattern of the inlays on the back tablets of these chairs is identical to those adorning the top of a spider-leg sofa table, illustrated in F. Collard, Regency Furniture, Woodbridge, 1987, p. 317, and in Mallett, The age of Matthew Boulton - Masterpieces of neo-classicism, London, 2000, pp. 112-113. This table belongs to a group of furniture firmly attributed to George Oakley and most likely originates from the same workshop as the present chairs. An identically decorated daybed, en-suite with the present chairs, is illustrated in the same Mallett's catalogue, pp. 94-95. A magnificent centre table, featuring the same set of inlays, certainly from the same workshop and possibly part of the same suite with the present chairs, was sold Christie's, New York, 29 January 1994, lot 342. An identical pair of chairs is illustrated in Ronald Phillips, Fine Antique English Furniture 2018, pp. 158-159. George Oakley: The firm of George Oakley produced stylish furniture in the Grecian taste during the decades spanning the turn of the 19th century, and was one of the pioneers of ‘Buhl’ inlay, a form of decoration that regained popularity during the early years of the Regency. Fashionable materials such as rosewood, mahogany and calamander were often used in Oakley's furniture, combined with inlays of satinwood and ebony, and brass stars and bands of metalwork. The high-class furniture made by George Oakley earned him a royal appointment and a contemporary reputation for fine craftsmanship. Visits by the royal family to Oakley's Bond St Showrooms are recorded in the Morning Chronicle of 1799. In May ‘the ROYAL FAMILY, with the PRINCE and PRINCESS of ORANGE did Mr. OAKLEY the honor of viewing his Printed Furniture...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Brass

  • Pair of Regency Hall Chairs, attributed to Banting and France
    By France & Banting 1
    Located in London, GB
    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...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Hardwood

  • Pair of Regency Klismos Chairs
    By Gillows of Lancaster & London
    Located in London, GB
    A very chic Regency period pair of 'Klismos' chairs with Greek key decoration to the backs, attributable to Gillows of Lancaster and London, England, circa 1805. Why we like them T...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Upholstery, Hardwood

  • Pair of Regency Painted Klismos Chairs
    By Thomas Hope
    Located in London, GB
    A fine pair of bronze-painted and gilt side chairs of Klismos form English, circa 1825. Why we like them A timeless Klismos design, bea...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Wood, Upholstery

  • Exceptional Regency Armchair attributed to George Oakley
    Located in London, GB
    An exceptional quality, early 19th century Regency period open armchair, of well-shaped Klismos outline and rare generous proportions, attributed to George Oakley, England, circa 18...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

    Materials

    Brass

  • Georgian Regency Painted Chairs, 3 Pairs Available
    Located in London, GB
    A charming pair of painted side chairs (THREE PAIRS and a PAIR OF MATCHING ARMCHAIRS are currently available) dating back to the English Regency era, exquisitely hand-painted to simu...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Wood

You May Also Like
  • Pair of Regency Window Seats Attributed to George Bullock
    By George Bullock
    Located in London, by appointment only
    Pair of early 19th century neo Etruscan mahogany window seats with scroll arms, and sabre legs, the flat side panels with black banding and inlaid with anthemions and paterae, stylis...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century British Regency Stools

    Materials

    Oak

  • Pair of English Regency Side Chairs attributed to Morel & Hughes, circa 1815
    By Morel and Hughes
    Located in Kinderhook, NY
    Pair of circa 1815 English Regency period side chairs attributed to renowned cabinetmakers Morel & Hughes having parcel-gilt and gilt-metal mounted rosewood 'klismos-form' frames; th...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Side Chairs

    Materials

    Ormolu

  • Early Pair of 19th Century English Regency Hall Chairs Attributed to Gillows
    By Gillows of Lancaster & London
    Located in Dublin, IE
    A fine pair of Regency hall / side chairs attributed to Gillows of Lancaster, with carved scallop shell backs, panel seats, raised on reeded column legs. Circa 1820 English.
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Wood

  • Set Of 6 Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs Attributed To Gillows
    By Gillows of Lancaster & London
    Located in Dublin, IE
    A very fine set of 6 Regency dining chairs attributed to Gillows of Lancaster and London, having a quality figured top rail with a reeded edge and carved top supported by shaped reeded supports over foliate scrolled splats, drop-in seats with luxury velvet fabric upholstery standing on reeded tapering legs to the front and out swept back legs. Circa 1820 English Artists Biography: The Gillow family of cabinet makers and upholsters came to prominence with Richard Gillow (1733 – 1811), the son of Robert Gillow, founder of the firm. Gillow’s reputation as one of the leading British cabinet...
    Category

    Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Wood

  • Carved Oak Regency Period X-Frame Stool Possibly by George Bullock
    By George Bullock
    Located in London, GB
    A Regency period X-frame stool Possibly by George Bullock Constructed from indigenous oak--a wood typically used by the renowned cabinetmaker George Bullock--this stool of elegan...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century English Regency Stools

    Materials

    Oak

  • A fine pair of Regency mahogany armorial hall chairs attributed Gillows
    Located in Lymington, Hampshire
    A fine pair of Regency mahogany armorial hall chairs attributed Gillows, each with an ogee back supported on C-scrolls and circular dished seat raised on turned and reeded outswept f...
    Category

    Antique 1810s English Regency Chairs

    Materials

    Mahogany

Recently Viewed

View All