Live Auction 5974The Sunday Sale - Property from the Academy of Medical Sciences, removed from 41 Portland Place, W1 and The Robert Harling Collection
Lot 53

A PAIR OF WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY LIBRARY BERGERES

CIRCA 1830

Closed13 September 2009

Price Realised

GBP 7,500

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A PAIR OF WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY LIBRARY BERGERES
CIRCA 1830
Each with a scrolled toprail above a curved back, arms and seat, covered in vinyl and squab cushion on faceted tapering legs with brass caps and castors (2)

Supplied by Green & Abbott Ltd., Wigmore Street, London 31 December 1950 for £76 10.

Specialist note

Reflecting the Regency and George IV classical style encouraged by the publications of Thomas Hope (1769-1831), George Smith and others, these elegant library fireside armchairs have Grecian lyre-scrolled frames evoking the poetry-diety Apollo. Related patterns for 'bergere' chairs appear in a drawing room elevation among Gillows' early 19th century watercolours for room elevations in the Victoria and Albert Museum (E.47-1952). The chairs in the watercolours have reading arms, as described in Gillows' 1813 Memorandum for the pair of related bergeres supplied to William Powlett, 2nd Baron Bolton (d. 1850), for Hackwood Park, Hampshire (sold Christie's House Sale, 20-22 April 1998, lot 55)