Pair of Antique Italian Open Barrel-Back Armchairs with Leather Seats

each tall upholstered back with shaped crest above a tight serpentine seat flanked by padded arms; over a scalloped apron with foliate and rocaille carving all raised on cabriole sup...

A curvaceous Danish rococo style carved walnut open armchair; the framed cartouche-shaped back above a serpentine seat flanked by scrolled padded arms; the scalloped apron with rocai...

A superb quality pair of open armchairs, after late 18th century designs by Gillows of Lancaster and London, the manufacture attributable to Gillow & Co. English, circa 1880. Why we like them Wonderfully elegant model, looking very delicate but in fact unusually strong – the sign of a skilled craftsman. Interestingly, chairs of this exact model can be seen in a painting by Walter Dendy Sadler (British, 1854-1923), The After Lunch Conversation, 1889, sold at Doyle, New York, 21 May 2024, lot 83. Design These chairs correspond to Gillows’ 'Garforth pattern' - a rare and highly desirable design - which first appeared in 1795 and was probably an adaptation of Georges Jacob's design of circa 1792 for Marie-Antoinette's dairy at Rambouillet. Gillows made the chairs not only in mahogany but also japanned, and they appear to have been particularly popular among the genteel, professional, and merchant classes in the north of England. In 1796, the Earl of Strafford purchased six white and green japanned chairs for Wentworth Woodhouse...

Dated to the early 19th century, this pair of lightweight Russian armchairs stand on elegantly tapered sabre legs and feature low, arched backs and turned arms decorated with acanthu...