An elegant late George III – early Regency period painted elbow chair, carved in the Chinoiserie fashion to simulate bamboo, after designs by Gillows. English, circa 1790–1800.

Why we like it

We love its slender, flowing design and the exoticism of the Chinoiserie manner, in which it is produced.

Design

Very similar designs are preserved in the Gillows' archives, particularly an illustration in their Colour Sketch Book, that matches the description included in one of the earliest orders for bamboo chairs, japanned black and gilt with round caned seats, costing 21/- each and dispatched on the 25 August 1794. (see John Boram, The Domestic Context for Gillows’ Rush- and Cane-Seated Chairs, Regional Furniture Society, 2017). A set of similarly carved chairs were supplied by the Gillow firm to Sir John Shaw Stewart of Ardgowan House in 1801 where they are still preserved.

Another notable example of a similar chair is preserved at the V&A Museum in London. This chair is one of five from David Garrick's villa at Hampton, on the River Thames to the west of London, where Thomas Chippendale supplied light, pretty, painted furniture, suited to a house that was designed for leisure and entertaining. An inventory made in 1779 recorded ‘six rush bottom Bamboo Chairs’ in the drawing room.

Dimensions

Width: 55cm / 21.75”
Depth: 53cm / 21”
Height: 85.5cm / 33.5”

Seat height: 43cm / 17”
Seat depth: 42.5cm 16.75”
Arms’ height: 70cm / 27.5”
Width between arms: 50cm / 19.75”

Condition

Canework and decoration are refreshed.