FIRST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY, AFTER THE DESIGN BY GEORGE SMITH

Details

A SET OF FOUR REGENCY GOTHIC OAK HALL CHAIRS
FIRST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY, AFTER THE DESIGN BY GEORGE SMITH
Each with ball finials and pierced quatrefoil splat centred by an armorial shield, on square legs and block feet, inventory label 1452, three chairs partially re-railed
35 in. (89 cm.) high; 18 ¼ in. (46.5 cm.) wide; 17 ¼ in. (44 cm.) deep
The lion crest is that of the Peachey family, Barons Selsey, probably for James Peachey, 1st Baron Selsey (1723-1808) or his son John Peachey, 2nd Baron Selsey (1749-1816).

Provenance

Almost certainly supplied to either James Peachey, 1st Baron Selsey (1723-1808) or his son John Peachey, 2nd Baron Selsey (1749-1816), for West Dean House and by descent at West Dean.
Almost certainly from the set of 12 Carved Oak Chairs with family crest emblazoned on back recorded in the Entrance Hall and Corridor at West Dean in an undated document of circa 1871 (West Dean archives).
Sold or removed from West Dean after 1871.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 9 July 1993, lot 240 (a set of twelve).
Marshcourt, Hampshire; offered anonymously at Sotheby's, Sussex, 14-16 September 1999, lot 1089 (a set of twelve; unsold).
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 16 January 2001, lot 365 (a set of twelve; purchased back for West Dean by the Edward James Foundation; eight remain at West Dean).

Special notice

Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square not collected from Christie’s by 5.00 pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Cadogan Tate. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Cadogan Tate Ltd. All collections will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker

awalker@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2085

Lot Essay

Whilst these chairs bear a clear resemblance to George Smith’s 1808 design, they could equally have been conceived by James Wyatt, who was responsible for the rebuilding of West Dean for James Peachey, 1st Lord Selsey, 1805-8, and who was also responsible for the design of much of its furniture. An interesting comparison can be drawn between the design of the shield-centred back and the similar panels Wyatt incorporated into the ceiling design for his grand staircase at Windsor Castle (J. Martin Robinson, James Wyatt; Architect to George III, New Haven and London, 2012, p. 264, pl. 264).

More from A Surreal Legacy: Selected works of art from The Edward James Foundation

View All