Open armchair
attributed to William Bradshaw (1700 - 1775)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1740
Materials
Mahogany, beech frame, textile
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 850112
Summary
A set of five mahogany open armchairs or library chairs, attributed to William Bradshaw, English, circa 1740 The upholstered padded back with waved top rail above an over stuffed seat with carved moulded arms with padded arm rests. The seat rail carved with acanthus leaves and a scallop shell on a trellis ground. Raised on cabriole legs with further acanthus carved shoulders and scrolled feet. Two of the chairs have been later painted, one chair has an exposed back frame whereas the others have been fully upholstered.
Full description
The French inspired carving and design of these chairs relates to a very similar set formerly at Ditchley Park, Oxfordshire which was probably supplied for the drawing room by William Bradshaw (1700-1775) in the 1740's. Bradshaw was certainly working at Ditchley at this time, see John Cornforth 'How French style touched the Georgian Drawing room' Country Life 6th January 2000 pp.52-53, fig.1. These chairs are among the earliest examples of French inspired furniture in England. Another almost identical set was sold Sotheby's 'The Estate of Christian, Lady Hesketh' 7th March 2007 lot # 107 The Earl of Bristol records small payments to Bradshaw between 1738-1739 see Beard and Gilbert 'The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers' pg. 100. Although these payments are most likely before the chairs were made the payment in itself shows a connection between The Earl and Bradshaw. A similar suite of furniture covered in needlework was in the collection of Sir Wlliam Cunliffe Brooks at Barlow Hall, Manchester in the mid-19th century eventually being acquired by Sir John Ward K.C.V.O. who lived in Dudley House, London. This suite is also illustrated in an article by Herbert Cesinsky on the collection of Sir John Ward, The Connoisseur, May 1921 page 3/14. It is illustrated again in The Connoisseur in an article by J.F. Hayward entitled, “An English Suite of Furniture with embroidered covers”, March 1964 edition, pages 146/149. William Bradshaw was amongst the leading makers of English furniture and tapestries/needlework in the mid-18th century, born 1700, died 1775. He had workshops at Frith Street, London, later moving to Greek Street and then Princes Street, Hanover Square. He supplied furniture and needlework/tapestry covering to many of the aristocracy of the day, The Earl of Stanhope, Chevening, Kent; The Earl of Leicester, Holkham Hall, Norfolk; Lord Folkestone, Longford Castle, Wiltshire; 3rd Earl of Burlington, Burlington House, London and many more. See also Metropolitan Museum Journal 37 published 2002. An article by Geoffrey Beard entitled “William Bradshaw: Furniture Maker and Tapestry Weaver”.
Provenance
Part of the Bristol Collection. Acquired by the National Trust in 1956 under the auspices of the National Land Fund, later the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Possibly bought direct from William Bradshaw by the Earl Bishop
Makers and roles
attributed to William Bradshaw (1700 - 1775), furniture maker
References
Beard, Geoffrey - “William Bradshaw: Furniture Maker and Tapestry Weaver”. Metropolitan Museum Journal 37 published 2002 Beard and Gilbert, 1986: Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert (ed), Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, pg. 100