Fig. 1: The chair from the Stansted Park suite in the V&A (W.42-1946) attributed to John Linnell
Fig. 2: The pen and ink and watercolour design in the V&A (E.78-1929) by John Linnell
A PAIR OF GILTWOOD ARMCHAIRS ATTRIBUTED TO JOIHN LINNELL
W: 70 cm
D: 70 cm
Further images
Provenance
Private Collection: Wiltshire, UK
Literature
H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell (London: 1980)
The present chairs relate closely to the suite of seat furniture made for George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (d. 1771) for Stansted Park, Sussex, attributed to John Linnell.1 A chair from the suite is in the Victoria and Albert Museum (W.42-1946) (Fig. 1). Five chairs and a settee are in 10 Downing Street, London. Two pairs sold from a private collection in Christie’s in 2013 (USD 55,875; 85,875) in addition to a further three in 2010 (USD 80,500; 98,500; 182,500).
The attribution is based on the pen and ink and watercolour design, also in the V&A, of c. 1768-70 by John Linnell (E.78-1929) (Fig. 2).
The present chairs are evidently part of a larger suite and articles from this have appeared on the market in recent years, including a set of four armchairs which sold in Christie’s in 2017 (USD $162,500).3
The chairs are Neoclassical in style. The swags to the tops of the legs, carved with impressive fluency, emulate fashionable Louis XVI furniture. They were also utilised by Linnell in ormolu, on games tables supplied to Alnwick Castle and Kedleston Hall.4 Similarly, the fluting of the seat-rails and husk carving is mirrored in the marquetry designs found on Linnell’s case furniture of this period.
1 H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell,Vol. II (London, 1980), p. 44, figs. 84-5
3 Christie’s, New York, 24 Oct 2017, Lot 58
4 Hayward & Kirkham (1980), pp. 141-3, figs. 279-81