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Lot Essay
This sofa can be firmly attributed to the cabinet- and tapestry-maker, Paul Saunders (1722-71) based on the similarity of the carving of the supports to that of seat-furniture by Saunders at one of his most celebrated commissions. Two sets of dining-chairs at Holkham Hall, Norfolk, supplied by Saunders between 1755-58 to Thomas Coke, 1st Earl of Leicester include virtually identical carved acanthus foliage encircled by a crown or band, framed by ‘C’ scrolls and flanked by small acanthus leaves. This ornamentation combined with fluting on the lower section of the supports and tightly scrolled feet is a characteristic of much of Saunders’ work. The ‘encircled acanthus’ probably derives from furniture by Saunders’ former business partner, William Bradshaw (1728-75); see the cabriole legs on a giltwood side table and cabinet stand, circa 1730, supplied to Philip, 2nd Earl Stanhope for Chevening House, Kent. This carving was also used in a more rudimentary manner by Wright & Elwick of Wakefield; Richard Wright (1745-71) probably worked for Saunders as a director of ‘The Royal Tapestry Manufactury, Soho Square’.
The form of the sofa is undoubtedly inspired by Chippendale’s designs for ‘French’ chairs illustrated in the Director, and, interestingly, both Saunders and Bradshaw were subscribers to the first edition (1754). As has been demonstrated recently, Saunders' importance to cabinet-making from the 1750s until his demise in 1771 has been somewhat overlooked in favour of his tapestry-making activities. However, from 1750, he was patronised by one of the greatest collectors and patrons of the arts, Sir Hugh Percy, 1st Earl (later Duke) of Northumberland, to whom Chippendale dedicated both the first and second editions of the Director (1754, 1755), undoubtedly in an attempt to attract patronage. Furthermore, throughout the 1750s and 1760s, Saunders was supplying all types of furniture and furnishings to Henry Pelham Clinton, 9th Earl of Lincoln, later 2nd Duke of Newcastle, for both his London and country seats (S. Goodman, ‘The 9th Earl of Lincoln and the refurbishment of Exchequer House, 10 Downing Street’, The British Art Journal, Winter 2017/2018, vol. XVIII, no. 3, pp. 3-7). Interestingly, the account books at Foremark Hall, Derbyshire, the principal Burdett seat, show that Chippendale was supplying chairs, globe lamps and a hall lantern between 1766 and 1772 to Sir Robert Burdett, 4th Baronet (1716-97), and also, although not itemised in the accounts, a mahogany secretaire library bookcase (A. Coleridge, ‘Thomas Chippendale and Foremark Hall’, Furniture History, vol. 33, 1997, pp. 136-142).
SIR FRANCIS BURDETT, 8TH BARONET, AND RAMSBURY MANOR
This sofa was part of a larger suite of seat-furniture in the collection of Sir Francis Burdett, 8th Baronet (1869-1951) at Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire, where the sofa was photographed in the 'Saloon' in 1920 (‘Ramsbury Manor-II, Wiltshire: A seat of Sir Francis Burdett. Bt.’, Country Life, 9 October 1920, p. 468, fig. 1). A chair from the same suite was photographed in this room in 1907 (‘Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire: A seat of Sir Francis Burdett, Bart.’, Country Life, 10 August 1907, p. 203, ‘North Side of Saloon’). On 21 May 1986 what must have been the remainder of the original suite, which by this date comprised three open armchairs and a sofa with the same leg design but with a different outline to the back was sold as ‘The property of Sir Francis Burdett's Will Trust’, Dreweatts, Newbury, 21 May 1986, lots 52-54.
The Burdett family took possession of Ramsbury Manor in 1800. In 1766 Francis Burdett, son of Robert, 4th Baronet, married Eleanor Jones of Ramsbury Manor, and it was their son, also Francis (1770-1844), later 5th Baronet, who inherited the estate through his mother. This sofa and the remainder of the suite may have originally come from another Burdett mansion, Foremark Hall, or one of their London addresses. Although Ramsbury Manor was retained furnished, it was let for much of the 19th century, and the family in this period appears to have favoured Foremark Hall (Country Life, 9 October 1920, p. 476). In the early 20th century, Ramsbury Manor was refurnished, and much of this furniture came from Foremark Hall; the latter was closed and eventually sold in 1940 by the 8th Baronet, who chose to reside at Ramsbury.
The form of the sofa is undoubtedly inspired by Chippendale’s designs for ‘French’ chairs illustrated in the Director, and, interestingly, both Saunders and Bradshaw were subscribers to the first edition (1754). As has been demonstrated recently, Saunders' importance to cabinet-making from the 1750s until his demise in 1771 has been somewhat overlooked in favour of his tapestry-making activities. However, from 1750, he was patronised by one of the greatest collectors and patrons of the arts, Sir Hugh Percy, 1st Earl (later Duke) of Northumberland, to whom Chippendale dedicated both the first and second editions of the Director (1754, 1755), undoubtedly in an attempt to attract patronage. Furthermore, throughout the 1750s and 1760s, Saunders was supplying all types of furniture and furnishings to Henry Pelham Clinton, 9th Earl of Lincoln, later 2nd Duke of Newcastle, for both his London and country seats (S. Goodman, ‘The 9th Earl of Lincoln and the refurbishment of Exchequer House, 10 Downing Street’, The British Art Journal, Winter 2017/2018, vol. XVIII, no. 3, pp. 3-7). Interestingly, the account books at Foremark Hall, Derbyshire, the principal Burdett seat, show that Chippendale was supplying chairs, globe lamps and a hall lantern between 1766 and 1772 to Sir Robert Burdett, 4th Baronet (1716-97), and also, although not itemised in the accounts, a mahogany secretaire library bookcase (A. Coleridge, ‘Thomas Chippendale and Foremark Hall’, Furniture History, vol. 33, 1997, pp. 136-142).
SIR FRANCIS BURDETT, 8TH BARONET, AND RAMSBURY MANOR
This sofa was part of a larger suite of seat-furniture in the collection of Sir Francis Burdett, 8th Baronet (1869-1951) at Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire, where the sofa was photographed in the 'Saloon' in 1920 (‘Ramsbury Manor-II, Wiltshire: A seat of Sir Francis Burdett. Bt.’, Country Life, 9 October 1920, p. 468, fig. 1). A chair from the same suite was photographed in this room in 1907 (‘Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire: A seat of Sir Francis Burdett, Bart.’, Country Life, 10 August 1907, p. 203, ‘North Side of Saloon’). On 21 May 1986 what must have been the remainder of the original suite, which by this date comprised three open armchairs and a sofa with the same leg design but with a different outline to the back was sold as ‘The property of Sir Francis Burdett's Will Trust’, Dreweatts, Newbury, 21 May 1986, lots 52-54.
The Burdett family took possession of Ramsbury Manor in 1800. In 1766 Francis Burdett, son of Robert, 4th Baronet, married Eleanor Jones of Ramsbury Manor, and it was their son, also Francis (1770-1844), later 5th Baronet, who inherited the estate through his mother. This sofa and the remainder of the suite may have originally come from another Burdett mansion, Foremark Hall, or one of their London addresses. Although Ramsbury Manor was retained furnished, it was let for much of the 19th century, and the family in this period appears to have favoured Foremark Hall (Country Life, 9 October 1920, p. 476). In the early 20th century, Ramsbury Manor was refurnished, and much of this furniture came from Foremark Hall; the latter was closed and eventually sold in 1940 by the 8th Baronet, who chose to reside at Ramsbury.