ID 1134554
Lot 97 | A PAIR OF ROMAN GILTWOOD ARMCHAIRS
Estimate value
£ 30 000 – 50 000
CIRCA 1815, THE DESIGN ATTRIBUTED TO LORENZO SANTI
Each pedimented toprail carved with griffins and undulating S-scroll frieze with flowerheads, the back, arms and seat covered in leopard-print velvet, on winged lion mask supports, with a fluted seat, on lion's front legs, one carved twice with Roman numerals 'VI, the other carved thrice with 'III'
Each: 42 ½ in. (108 cm.) high; 27 ½ in. (70.2 cm.) wide; 23 ¼ in. (59 cm.) deep
Provenance
Almost certainly commissioned by Cardinal Fesch (d. 1839) in Rome, the uncle of Napoleon;
Moved to his house in the Rue du Mont Blanc, Paris, circa 1806;
Probably amongst those sold in Paris, 17 June 1816, lots 444-446.
Probably bought by William Beckford, for Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire, and sold Phillip's house sale, 9 September and following days until end of October, 1823, lots 1534-40.
Charles William Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, Wynyard Park, Durham, and thence by descent.
Acquired from Carlton Hobbs, January 2005.
Literature
D. E. Ostergard ed., William Beckford 1760-1844: An Eye for the Magnificent, exhibition catalogue, Yale University Press, 2001, p. 336, cat. no. 53.
Exhibited
New York, Bard Graduate Centre, William Beckford 1760-1844: An Eye for the Magnificent, 2001-2002, then London, Dulwich Picture Gallery, 2002, no. 53 (one only).
| Medium: | Giltwood |
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| Art style: | Empire |
| Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
| Auction house category: | Furniture and Lamps, Armchairs and chairs, Armchairs |
| Medium: | Giltwood |
|---|---|
| Art style: | Empire |
| Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
| Auction house category: | Furniture and Lamps, Armchairs and chairs, Armchairs |
| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |||||
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |||||
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| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |









