A superb quality mid-18th century English chair of the 'Chippendale' style, possibly supplied to St Giles House, Dorset, and attributed to the royal cabinet-makers William Vile and John Cobb. London, St Martin's Lane, circa 1750–55.

Why we like it

This exceptional chair is certainly one of the most handsome mid-18th century designs that we have ever handled. Crafted to the highest standard and benefitting from an undoubtable attribution, this chair is a truly rare and desirable specimen of its kind. A museum-quality piece for those who only want the best.

Design

Without doubt an excellent specimen of the mid-18th century Rococo fashion, this chair displayed various decorative elements, typical of that short-lived style, inspired by nature and earlier French designs.

Attribution

The chair is identical to a set of dining chairs which was commissioned by the 4th Earl of Shaftesbury (1711-1771) for the dining room of St Giles House in Dorset (sold Christie's, London, 2 May 2002, lot 20 – £680,000 excluding premium). These chairs are illustrated in situ at St Giles in An Inventory of the Historic Monuments in Dorset, Volume 5, London, 1975, p. 77, as well as in Tim Knox, The Rebirth of an English Country Hose, St Giles House, Rizzoli, 2018, pp. 128–129. 

The 4th Earl of Shaftesbury commissioned an unusually large number of sets of seat furniture for St Giles House. The famous St Giles House salon suite of richly carved seat furniture (see Christie's London, 8 July 1999, lot 30) was firmly attributed to the royal cabinet-maker William Vile (d.1767) on the grounds of many similarities to pieces supplied by Vile and Cobb to King George III and Queen Charlotte for the Royal residences. Messrs, William Vile (d.1767) and John Cobb (d.1778) formed a powerful syndicate with William Hallett (d.1781) from 1753, known as 'The St. Martin's Lane Syndicate'. Four payments to William Hallett are recorded in the St Giles Household Account Book for the years 1732–1757, including £167 for 'carved chairs' paid on February 2, 1745, which makes it very plausible that Vile and Cobb took over Hallett's commission after he retired from business.
Although it is not 100% certain that our chair was indeed supplied to St Giles House, this possibility is highly likely, given its distinctive design, identical to the rest of the set that was sold from the house.

Dimensions

Height: 38" / 96.5 cm
Width: 22" / 56 cm
Depth: 23.5" / 60 cm
Seat height: 18.5" / 47 cm

Condition

Fine antique condition, newly re-upholstered.