.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The pair of armchairs forms part of a larger suite of seat-furniture that may have been supplied to Sir Monnoux Cope, 7th baronet of Hanwell and Bramshill (d.1763) for Bramshill Park, Hampshire. Cope, who succeeded as 7th baronet in 1749, appears to have refurbished the mansion at the time of his accession as there are other furnishings from Bramshill of the same date. Cope may have patronised the Berkeley Square father and son cabinet-making partnership, William (d.1763) and John Linnell (d.1796) as a pair of mirrors from Bramshill and now at Eversley Manor, Hampshire are particularly close to a drawing by John Linnell at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol. I, p. 77 and vol. II, p. 98, fig. 187). A suite of 'gothic' style seat-furniture from the Chapel Room at Bramshill features cluster-column legs and needlework covering. Two of the twelve side chairs from the latter suite sold Christie's, New York, 16 April 1994, lot 156.
Another possibility is that the present armchairs (and the suite to which it belongs) came from Ireland. Two sons of the 1st baronet, Sir Anthony Cope (d.1615) settled in Ireland, and a descendant of one of them, William Henry Cope (d.1892) succeeded as 12th baronet in 1851 when his distant cousin Sir John Cope, 11th baronet died. Additionally, the design of the back is a variation of a popular form in Ireland. The arms have scrolled eagle's heads which is another Irish feature, as are the pierced fret stretchers (The Knight of Glin and J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven and London, 2007, pp. 107, 135, 211, figs. 136, 182, cat. 30).
When the suite was sold by Captain Denzil Cope (later 14th baronet) in 1931, it comprised '1 Settee of triple chair form, 12 Side Chairs, 2 Arm-chairs' (Sotheby's, London, 13 March 1931, lot 120). The present armchairs retain the seat upholstery as described in the sale catalogue, 'covered in needlework with animals, birds and flowers in gros and petit-point' ibid.). Eight of the side chairs were sold by French & Co. as two sets of four to Mrs. A.T. Heal or Hert on 23 May 1931 and 8 June 1931 (Getty Research Institute, French & Company stock no. 39013). The settee was sold Christie's, New York, 30 April 2007, lot 123 ($78,000).
Built in 1612, Bramshill Park was purchased by Sir John Cope, 6th baronet in 1699 and remained in the family until sold to Lord Brocket in 1937.
Another possibility is that the present armchairs (and the suite to which it belongs) came from Ireland. Two sons of the 1st baronet, Sir Anthony Cope (d.1615) settled in Ireland, and a descendant of one of them, William Henry Cope (d.1892) succeeded as 12th baronet in 1851 when his distant cousin Sir John Cope, 11th baronet died. Additionally, the design of the back is a variation of a popular form in Ireland. The arms have scrolled eagle's heads which is another Irish feature, as are the pierced fret stretchers (The Knight of Glin and J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven and London, 2007, pp. 107, 135, 211, figs. 136, 182, cat. 30).
When the suite was sold by Captain Denzil Cope (later 14th baronet) in 1931, it comprised '1 Settee of triple chair form, 12 Side Chairs, 2 Arm-chairs' (Sotheby's, London, 13 March 1931, lot 120). The present armchairs retain the seat upholstery as described in the sale catalogue, 'covered in needlework with animals, birds and flowers in gros and petit-point' ibid.). Eight of the side chairs were sold by French & Co. as two sets of four to Mrs. A.T. Heal or Hert on 23 May 1931 and 8 June 1931 (Getty Research Institute, French & Company stock no. 39013). The settee was sold Christie's, New York, 30 April 2007, lot 123 ($78,000).
Built in 1612, Bramshill Park was purchased by Sir John Cope, 6th baronet in 1699 and remained in the family until sold to Lord Brocket in 1937.