A very fine and rare Regency period pair of mahogany chairs, firmly attributed to George Bullock. England, circa 1815.

Why we like them

These superb quality, wonderfully stylish chairs, executed in the finest solid Spanish mahogany, and having many unusual features such as octagonal back legs, reeded back supports, continuously veneered seat rails and legs, almost certainly belong to the oeuvre of the celebrated London furniture designer and maker, George Bullock, most famous, perhaps, for furnishing Longwood House, Napoleon Bonabarte's St. Helena exile residence.

Attribution

A pair of virtually similar chairs, possibly from Moncrieffe House, Perthshire, Scotland, was illustrated in Blairman's 1999 catalogue.

The design of the present chairs derives from the 'Tracings by Thomas Wilkinson, from the Designs of the late Mr George Bullock, 1820' (City Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham, M.3.74, p.22).

The reeded back supports, and the unusual and distinctive chamfered and collared back legs, are features that can be seen on dining chairs supplied in 1815 by Bullock for Napoleon's use on St Helena (see Napoleon in Exile, Appendix 1, Nos. 8 & 9, and figs. 46 & 47). 

Dimensions

Height: 34 inches / 86.5 cm
Width: 20.5 inches / 51 cm
Depth: 19.5 inches / 49.5 cm
Seat height: 18 inches / 46 cm

Condition

Ready for placement and immediate use. New traditional hand-stitched upholstery, covered in piped sumptuous period-correct natural haircloth. Later blocks to seat frame corners, one chair with repairs to back tablet.