A PAIR OF GEORGE III MAHOGANY OPEN ARMCHAIRS

The ball handholds clasped by acanthus, or stiff-leaves as on the present pair, are a recurrent motif in John Linnell's documented work. These appear on a set of armchairs supplied to Robert Child for Osterley Park, Middlesex in circa 1768, a set supplied to the Earl of Harewood for Harewood House, Yorkshire in circa 1775 and seat furniture supplied to the Duke of Argyll for Inverary Castle in circa 1775-1778 (see H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol.II, figs. 72, 88 and 89). This feature also appears on a design attributed to Linnell of circa 1770-1775 (op.cit, fig.87).