A REGENCY POLYCHROME-JAPANNED DAYBED

The Grecian couch relates to a chaise longue pattern in George Smith's Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808, (pl.65). Smith, who noted that such seats were 'admissible in Drawing Rooms, Boudoirs, Parlo[u]rs or Dressing Rooms', also illustrated an elegant Drawing Room decorated in related Chinese taste (pl. 149). Smith advertised himself as Upholder to George IV, when Prince of Wales, and the latter's Marine Pavilion, Brighton was furnished around 1808 with a related Chinese cabinet with griffin feet (see M. Jourdain, Regency Furniture, London, 1965, fig. 48).
The painted decoration also relates to the work of the Prince of Wales' designers John and Frederick Crace who supervised the work at Brighton Pavilion and supplied designs for its interiors and furniture.