In celebration of our 135 years and America 250, we curated a loan exhibition for the historic Benjamin Franklin House in London's Craven Street.
Furnishing Benjamin Franklin House provided a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate a particular specialism of ours: selecting furniture and decorative arts that are appropriate to the character, period and proportions of an historic building. Drawing on generations of experience, we brought together pieces that complement the architecture while creating the atmosphere of a lived-in Georgian interior.
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The single plank oval tilt-top top supported by a turned barrel, collared and writhen turned stem on generous cabriole legs with slipper pad feet on concealed castors.
Of superb proportions and in excellent condition retaining the finest colour and patina.
Circa 1745
Height: 28½” (72.5 cm)
Width: 41¼” (105 cm)
Depth: 35½” (90 cm)
£6,500
NB The writhen turning on the tables illustrated in The Dictionary of English Furniture Vol. III, page 207. Fig 15. ca 1740-50 and The Antiques Directory, page 420. Fig 1, ca 1740.
A fantastic pair of George II period walnut Side Chairs, the shaped carved splat backs over drop in seats on the cabriole legs with carved knees terminating in ball and claw feet to the front and chamfered splay legs to the back.
Circa 1750
Height: 37.5" / 95cm Width: 21.5" / 55cm Depth: 19" / 48cm Seat height: 18" / 45.7cm
£3,850
An extremely elegant and versatile George II period mahogany table with two flaps, one for drawing or tea the other dished for cards, with a frieze compartment.
Ref: Fig.19, page 198. Vol. III The Dictionary of English Furniture.
Folding to a shallow console it stands on slender tapering legs with lappet shoulders terminating in pad feet.
Circa 1730
Height: 29 inch (74 cm)
Width: 30 inch (76 cm)
Depth: 15 inch (38 cm) - 30 inch (76cm)
£2,850
An extremely rare and most interesting example from the 1740s of huang-huali and other timbers. The shaped top rail with scroll carved centre and floral carved "ears" above a scroll shaped pierced splat back; the arms and supports curved. The seat frame with shaped apron and drop-in seat, the front cabriole legs with carved and pounced knees on pad feet. The seat wider at the front to accommodate the dress of the period. A small number of fine side and open armchairs showing faithful adherence to European and English prototypes were made in Canton between 1740 and 1760. Most of these are well recorded. Not so are those made in provincial areas, of unquestionable English inspiration but with general form and decorative elements showing a distinctly Chinese interpretation. Chairs and other items of houshold furniture in this category are rare today because they so often remained in situ when the Western incumbent left for home, and little merit was accorded to them after that. For all 18th century Chinese furniture made in the European style, unless fully documented, the question remains as to whether it was copied from an original piece transported abroad, a portrait showing such a piece in use, or just the fond recollection of a traveller far from home describing as best he could something to make his life less alien.
Height: 38” (96.5 cm) Seat: 19” (48cm)
Width: 27” (68.5 cm)
Depth: 26” (66 cm)
Circa 1750
£6,500
The rectangular folding top supported on two plain "gates" and two very finely turned end columns over platform feet, with superb rich colour and patina and bearing a label from Partridge Antiques.
Height: 29” Width: 45”with leaves up, 13” leaves down Depth: 35”
Circa 1670
£4,850
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A rare large painted stick back Windsor chair dating to the late 18th century period. The paint refreshed mid 20th century
Circa 1770
Height: 42 inch (107 cm) Seat Height: 18 inch (46cm)
Width: 26 inch (66 cm) Seat Width: 18-13 inch (46-33cm)
Depth: 19½ inch (50 cm) Seat Depth: 14½ inch (37cm)
£2,450
A most unusual oak dresser retaining its original plate rack with six drawers to the base.
An early 19th c revival of a mid-18th century style which occurred and ran through all classes from high-style rococo to domestic functionality in the 1830’s.
Circa 1800
Height: 82” (208.5cm)
Width: 78” (198 cm)
Depth: 18” (46 cm)
£3,850
A charming George II period oak long case clock with painted dial.
Circa 1740
Height: 85"/216 cm
Reserved
A charming bow fronted oak side table with frieze drawer
Circa 1770
Height: 31 inch (79 cm)
Width: 29 inch (74.5 cm)
Depth: 18 inch (46 cm)
£1,450
A George II style oak side chair with splat back, drop in seat and front cabriole legs.
£250
A charming mid 18th century lowboy. The overhanging top above two short over one long drawer, standing on cabriole legs.
Circa 1735
Height: 28” (72 cm) Width: 28” (72 cm) Depth: 17” (43 cm)
£1,950
A particularly fine example with tapered and stop fluted stem and flower carved guilloche collar on a fine tripod base. Each leg with bound carved foliage terminating in an elongated claw and ball foot. Circa 1755
23” wide, 23” deep, 68½” high. 59cm by 59cm deep by 175cm high.
The base £4,250.
The exquisite needlework panel depicting a vase of flowers, circa 1735 available separately.
Register Interest
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