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Lot Essay
This pair of window benches employ the exotic and rare ‘yellow wood’ called fustic. Its use was popularized by Thomas Chippendale, who supplied several patrons with fustic wood furniture. In 1772 Chippendale supplied David Garrick a 'large Inlaid Press of Fustick and black Rosewood' and another piece described as having a top 'vaneered with Yellow Fustick'. However it is particularly rare to find fustic used in the solid, as on these window seats, rather than as a veneer.
The carving on these window seats is very similar to the celebrated set of dining chairs almost certainly designed by John Vardy for John Spencer, later 1st Earl Spencer (1734-1783), likely for the Great Eating Room at Spencer House, London, sold Christie’s, 8 July 2010, lot 1030. The elegantly carved tapering legs, with foliage and husks, closely relate to those on the dining chairs. Interestingly, this set of dining chairs was also later identified as being made of fustic, rather than mahogany, as previously thought.
The carving on these window seats is very similar to the celebrated set of dining chairs almost certainly designed by John Vardy for John Spencer, later 1st Earl Spencer (1734-1783), likely for the Great Eating Room at Spencer House, London, sold Christie’s, 8 July 2010, lot 1030. The elegantly carved tapering legs, with foliage and husks, closely relate to those on the dining chairs. Interestingly, this set of dining chairs was also later identified as being made of fustic, rather than mahogany, as previously thought.