Lot Details
Lot 315
George II Upholstered Solid Mahogany Library Armchair
Attributed to Wright and Elwick, circa 1755
The padded serpentine back with foliate-carved arm supports covered in crimson silk damask, raised on cabriole legs ending in scrolled feet. Height 39 1/2 inches (100.4 cm), width 27 inches (68.6 cm), depth 21 inches (53.3 cm).
The profile of this pair of chairs, together with the carved foliate ornament on the knees and the scrolled and cabochon-enriched toes, are closely related to two suites of seat furniture, one formerly at Hackwood Park, Hampshire, the other from Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, which have been attributed to the partnership of Wright and Elwick (See: Christie's at Hackwood Park, April 20-22, 1998, lots 119-120, and Christie's London, 'Wentworth', July 8, 1998, lot 67). Richard Wright and Thomas Elwick (1745-1771) of Wakefield, became one of the eminent firms of cabinet makers in Yorkshire in the latter half of the 18th century. Subsequently, the partnership changed to become Edward Elwick & Son (1787) and John Elwick and John Robinson (1788-1816). As noted by Beard and Gilbert in The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 'Elwick was at pains to commend the "neat plainness" of his furniture to patrons' pointedly condemning '"a great deal of Inlaid Expensive work sent from London - but badly Designed the taste Vulgar & Clumsy"'..., and that 'he informed his prospective patrons "I have the Honour to serve most of the Nobility & Gentry in the West and North Rideing"'. These clients included the Marquis of Rockingham at Wentworth Woodhouse, the Earl of Strafford at Wentworth Castle and the Countess of Oxford.
C The Estate of Madelyn Brown Harris
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