George III Carved Shield-Back Armchair

George III Carved Shield-Back Armchair

An exceptional George III mahogany shield-back or ‘escutcheon’ pattern armchair, attributed to Gillows. C.1780

With expertly carved pateras throughout the frame and tiny ball moulding, caned seat intact above tapering legs on spade feet. Fitted with horsehair squab cushion, upholstered in red leather.

The design of a three-splat shield back chair with a ‘camel back stay rail’ is referenced in Susan E. Stuarts, Gillows of Lancaster and London, Volume 1, page 164 and again in Lindsay Boynton’s Gillow Furniture designs 1760-1800, see plate 24.

Provenance: From a Historic Townhouse on Wimpole Street, London.

Dr. James Prescott Jule, Cheshire (d. 1899).

Rogers Fund, 1912.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, sold Christie’s New York, 27 October 2015, lot 115.

Painted inventory number to underside ‘12.138.3.’

Seat Height (with squab)

Wear consistent with age, period caning intact, some historic sympathetic repairs, structurally sound.