The Nostell Priory Hall Chairs: circa 1770 - 1775
attributed to Thomas Chippendale (fl. 1766 - 1771 when operating without a business partner)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1770 - circa 1775
Materials
Carved and turned beech, limewood, pollard oak inlay, painted finish
Place of origin
St. Martin's Lane
Order this imageCollection
Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire
NT 959702
Summary
A set of eight beech, lime and inlaid hall armchairs, English, circa 1770 - 1775, attributed to either Thomas Chippendale (fl. 1766 - 1771 operating without a business partner) or Chippendale, Haig & Co. (fl. 1771 - 1779) on the basis of their similarity to a very similar set at Harewood House, another house which was partly furnished by Chippendale's firm, despite the fact that neither set of chairs can be traced in any bill or account for the period. Neo-classical in design, these chairs were originally japanned or painted white to match the scheme of the Top Hall, the room for which they are believed to have been made, but were given a four-coloured grained finish by Thomas Ward in 1821, as part of his work finishing rooms that were still not complete when Charles Winn inherited Nostell Priory in 1817. The pair of pier tables in the same room, which conform to a design of Robert Adam's dated June 1775, were originally also white. With oval backs centred by the inlaid Winn crest, 'on a torse, a demi-eagle displayed ducally gorged ermine', inlaid in oak against a black ground and within a beaded surround. The back carved with a fan within a band of harebells and an outer bead. The back's waist centred by a patera between acanthus and above a fluted shoe. The shaped and dished seat with projecting corners and guilloche-carved edge and beaded 'tablet' friezes. The arms moulded and outswept and on in-curved supports. On turned and tapering fluted supports, each headed by a patera and with a turned collar to the foot.
Provenance
Probably purchased by Sir Rowland Winn, 5th Baronet and thence by descent until accepted by HM Treasury in lieu of death duties on the estate of Rowland Winn, 4th Baron Oswald (1916 - 1984), 1986.
Makers and roles
attributed to Thomas Chippendale (fl. 1766 - 1771 when operating without a business partner), cabinet maker attributed to Chippendale, Haig & Co. (fl. 1771 - 1779), cabinet-maker
References
Gilbert (1978): Christopher Gilbert, The Life & Work of Thomas Chippendale (1978), 2 volumes., Vol. I, pp. 172 - 173 & Vol. II, illustrated p. 97, Figures 157 & 158 Edwards, Ralph, 1894-1977 shorter dictionary of English furniture : 1964., p. 168, Figure 3