Oct 18, 2023 10:00 EST
English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts
151
Important Set of Twelve Geoge IV Gothic Revival Oak Dining Chairs from Knowsley Hall, Lancashire
Circa 1820
Estate / Collection: Property from an Important New York Private Collection
Each quatrefoil-carved back and seat upholstered à chassis, on cluster-column legs, the front feet with casters stamped COPES / PATENT; drop-in seat frames variously stamped III - XXXVI.
Height 39 1/4 inches (99.6 cm), width 23 inches (58.4 cm), depth of seat 21 1/2 inches (54.6 cm).
Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. from a set of forty-eight dining chairs designed by John Foster, Jr. of Liverpool, commissioned in 1820 by the 12th Earl of Derby for the State Dining Room.
Sold in the 1960s.
Anonymous sale, Sotheby's, New York, October 21-22, 1999, lot 447.
Possibly Stair Galleries, June 24, 2017, lot 29.
Knowsley Hall, continually owned by the Stanley family since the 12th century to the present day, was originally a hunting lodge that has had construction from the 16th century into the 21st century. The 1st Earl of Derby, the stepfather of Henry VII, was the first to alter the house but it was the 10th Earl who was responsible for the first major works. Upon inheriting in 1702, he updated the interiors and exterior of the medieval wing as well as adding a new wing. Although the facade was basically untouched in successive alterations, not much remains of the interiors of the new hall, designed in the English Baroque style in 1720s and '30s by Henry Sephton of Liverpool.
Robert Adam, who was commissioned to design the 12th Earl's London residence, Derby House, submitted designs in 1776-7 for the renovation and enlargement of Knowsley but, due to the 12th Earl's unfortunate marital circumstances, these designs were never executed. Following the death of his first wife, he married the actress Elizabeth Farren in 1797. The Liverpool architect John Foster, Jr. (1786-1846), who had studied under the Royal architect Jeffry Wyatt, later Sir Jeffry Wyatville, was commissioned by the Earl and his new wife commissioned John Foster, Jr., to create a large new dining room from the old drawing rooms, described by a guest in 1822: 'It is 53 ft. by 37, and such a height that it destroys the effect of all the other apartments'.
A set of twelve dining chairs from the same suite was sold, Christie's, London, June 27, 1985.
Literature:
John Martin Robinson, 'Knowsley Hall, Lancashire, I, II and III, A Seat of the Earl of Derby', Country Life, April 15, 1999, pp. 70-75, June 24, 1999, pp. 130-133, fig. 5 (20th century copies), July 1, 1999, pp 91-97.
The view of the State Dining Room in John Martin Robinson's article shows copies of the present chairs commissioned by the present Earl of Derby and his wife. They were made by Neil Stevenson, an eminent craftsman who replicated the A. W. N. Pugin sideboard at Windsor Castle destroyed by fire in 1992.
Sold for $34,650
Estimated at $7,000 - $10,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: Property from an Important New York Private Collection
Each quatrefoil-carved back and seat upholstered à chassis, on cluster-column legs, the front feet with casters stamped COPES / PATENT; drop-in seat frames variously stamped III - XXXVI.
Height 39 1/4 inches (99.6 cm), width 23 inches (58.4 cm), depth of seat 21 1/2 inches (54.6 cm).
Provenance:Knowsley Hall, Lancashire. from a set of forty-eight dining chairs designed by John Foster, Jr. of Liverpool, commissioned in 1820 by the 12th Earl of Derby for the State Dining Room.
Sold in the 1960s.
Anonymous sale, Sotheby's, New York, October 21-22, 1999, lot 447.
Possibly Stair Galleries, June 24, 2017, lot 29.
Knowsley Hall, continually owned by the Stanley family since the 12th century to the present day, was originally a hunting lodge that has had construction from the 16th century into the 21st century. The 1st Earl of Derby, the stepfather of Henry VII, was the first to alter the house but it was the 10th Earl who was responsible for the first major works. Upon inheriting in 1702, he updated the interiors and exterior of the medieval wing as well as adding a new wing. Although the facade was basically untouched in successive alterations, not much remains of the interiors of the new hall, designed in the English Baroque style in 1720s and '30s by Henry Sephton of Liverpool.
Robert Adam, who was commissioned to design the 12th Earl's London residence, Derby House, submitted designs in 1776-7 for the renovation and enlargement of Knowsley but, due to the 12th Earl's unfortunate marital circumstances, these designs were never executed. Following the death of his first wife, he married the actress Elizabeth Farren in 1797. The Liverpool architect John Foster, Jr. (1786-1846), who had studied under the Royal architect Jeffry Wyatt, later Sir Jeffry Wyatville, was commissioned by the Earl and his new wife commissioned John Foster, Jr., to create a large new dining room from the old drawing rooms, described by a guest in 1822: 'It is 53 ft. by 37, and such a height that it destroys the effect of all the other apartments'.
A set of twelve dining chairs from the same suite was sold, Christie's, London, June 27, 1985.
Notes:
Literature:
John Martin Robinson, 'Knowsley Hall, Lancashire, I, II and III, A Seat of the Earl of Derby', Country Life, April 15, 1999, pp. 70-75, June 24, 1999, pp. 130-133, fig. 5 (20th century copies), July 1, 1999, pp 91-97.
The view of the State Dining Room in John Martin Robinson's article shows copies of the present chairs commissioned by the present Earl of Derby and his wife. They were made by Neil Stevenson, an eminent craftsman who replicated the A. W. N. Pugin sideboard at Windsor Castle destroyed by fire in 1992.
Please note that Doyle does not guarantee the condition of upholstery. Chair frames in overall good condition, commensurate with age and use, sun fading, old marks and scratches, chips to most ,especially to finials and feet; XXIII bottom back of top rail with chip across entire width, bottom of back rest with crack, XIIII two-inch rectangular patch to left center of top rail, VIII three-inch rectangular patch to right end of top rail, III eight-inch repair crack to bottom back of back rest, XXXXV with penciled rather than stamped number, XXXXVI four-inch repaired crack to right bottom back of back rest, also three-inch repaired break to left side of top rail, XXII (XXXVIII?) cracks to both sides of bottom back of back rest, right seat rail with broken tenon and in need or restoration, XVII 5-inch repaired crack to left of top rail and now with brads, twelve-inch repaired crack to bottom back of back rest at left side and now with inpainting
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
Auction: English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts, Oct 18, 2023
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Auction of English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts on October 18, 2023
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for Complimentary Auction Estimates for Your English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts
NEW YORK, NY -- Furnishings for dining in the grand style achieved exceptional prices at Doyle’s October 18, 2023 auction of English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts. The sale showcased a broad selection of elegant furniture, Georgian silver, porcelain, mirrors, clocks, chandeliers, tapestries and rugs from distinguished estates and prominent collections.
Highlighting the auction was an important set of twelve Geoge IV Gothic Revival oak dining chairs more than tripled their $7,000-10,000 estimate to realize $34,650. Originally part of a set of forty-eight, the dining chairs were designed by John Foster, Jr. of Liverpool. They were commissioned in 1820 by the 12th Earl of Derby for the State Dining Room at Knowsley Hall, Lancashire.
An elegant set of twelve Continental quartz and lapis obelisk-form place card holders soared past their estimate of $1,500-3,000 to achieve a stunning $20,160. And a Regency mahogany, part-ebonized and gilt-bronze mounted extension dining table sold for $5,670, surpassing its $2,000-4,000 estimate.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact:
Furniture & Decorations: Peter Lang, 212-427-4141, ext 243, Furniture@Doyle.com
Silver: Todd Sell, 212-427-4141, ext 269, Silver@Doyle.com
Rugs, Carpets & Tapestries: Mark Topalian, 212-427-4141, ext 243, Rugs@Doyle.com
