Hall chair
possibly Gillows of Lancaster
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1805
Materials
Mahogany, beech, metal, paint, later deal repairs
Measurements
90.2 x 48.3 x 52 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 608111.2
Summary
A mahogany hall chair with a painted roundel in the backrest. The chair was made in England, circa 1805, and is one of a set of eight hall chairs at Attingham Hall. The chair features carved elements that have mainly been appiled separatley to the structure of the chair. The toprail of the chair is carved with a pair of addorsed scrolls terminating in rosettes above a back panel with a central roundel. This is painted with a crest featuring a deer and coronet atop a torse (a twisted roll of fabric laid about the top of the helmet and the base of the crest). This is the crest of the Noel-Hill family of Attingham. The painted roundel has a border applied with eight small mahogany roundels. Beneath the roundel on the backrest of the chair are two sprays of scroll-ended anthemia. The back panel rests between pilasters with arch-topped 'panels.' Applied to the bottom of the pilasters are a pair of half-round bosses. The solid mahogany seat is carved with a double line. The seat rests on seat rails with bottom edge mouldings. The seat rails are made of beech veneered in mahogany. The front legs are square-section and tapering, and have arch-topped 'panels' above 'waisted' feet. The rear legs are plain, tapering, rectangular-section and outswept.
Full description
This extremely good quality set of hall chairs, made from the finest mahogany, have traditionally been attributed to Gillows of Lancaster. There is no documentary evidence to support this, however, although it is known that Thomas Noel Hill, 2nd Lord Berwick (1770 - 1832) purchased a large quantity of furniture from Gillows at the beginning of the 19th century. Another, very similar set, also painted with a family crest, were supplied to John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon (1751 - 1838), one of the most successful men of his day and Lord Chancellor of England. Eldon had houses in Bedford Square and Hamilton Place, London, and at Encombe in Dorset, which he bought in 1806. The crest painted against a blue ground to the backs of the Attingham hall chairs is that of NOEL, 'on the battlements of a tower a hind statant argent collared and chained Or', which was used by both the Hills of Hawkstone and of Attingham. These chairs were probably those listed in the 1827 Attingham bankruptcy sale catalogue (p. 159), but were probably bought in at £4.04.00 each, for a total of £33.12.00. One of these chairs in shown in an historic photograph of the Entrance Hall, circa 1924.
Provenance
Listed in the 1827 Attingham Bankruptcy sale catalogue (p. 159); in the Inventory taken at Attingham park in 1861 (p. 88); in the Inventory of 1913 (p. 81); visible in a 1924 photograph of the Entrance Hall. Believed to be 2nd Lord Berwick collection: Thomas Noel Hill, 2nd Baron Berwick (1770 – 1832). By descent, bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and partial contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) and transferred to the National Trust on 15th May 1953.
Marks and inscriptions
Underside of seat: 8
Makers and roles
possibly Gillows of Lancaster , cabinetmaker