Window seat
manner of George Smith (London c.1786-1826)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1810
Materials
Ebonised wood, parcel gilt, beech rails, cane, brass castors
Measurements
83 x 130 x 39 cm
Order this imageCollection
Scotney Castle, Kent
NT 790933
Summary
An ebonised and parcel gilt window seat, English, in the manner of George Smith, circa 1810. With tall over-scrolled open arms at each end of the cane seat, standing on hocked lion's legs carved with anthemion and terminating in paw feet with sunken brass castors, stamped with indistinct initials to the seat rail.
Full description
George Smith (1786-1826), a seasoned cabinet maker, published his 'Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration in 1808 which comprehensively featured furniture designs for all the current fashions, including the Egyptian and Greek Revivals, Chinese and Gothic in 150 plates. He makes considerable use of animal monopodiae and popularised the winged paw foot (Jourdain, 'Regency Furniture', revised edition 1965, p.23).
Provenance
Part of the Hussey collection. The contents were bequeathed to the National Trust in 2006 by Mrs. Elizabeth Hussey.
Marks and inscriptions
To the underside of the seat rail: indistinct initials
Makers and roles
manner of George Smith (London c.1786-1826), furniture designer
References
Jourdain, Margaret,. Regency furniture 1795-1830 1965., p.23