Regency Specialists in the Antiques Trade

Early George IV Two-Seater Sofa

England

circa 1820 - 1830

The diminutive George IV period rosewood sofa has recently been re-upholstered in a blue Gainsborough damask fabric.

The square squab cushion with flanking upholstered bolsters is set within the padded out-scrolled arms, with leaf and 'C' scrolled carved facings over a panelled upright.

The free standing sofa has a well figured rosewood show frame and is raised on solid crisply-carved rosewood baluster legs, that terminate on the original brass castors.

Rococo Revival; seat furniture c.1813-40
Shortly after the new partnership was established Gillow & Co of Oxford Street began to design and make very richly carved seat furniture with curvaceous arms, cabriole legs, top and seat rails smothered with tumbling leaf forms, 'C' scrolls, rock work and acanthus ornaments.

Relatable sofas can be seen in the Gillow archive show room settings drawn up by their workshops, 176 Oxford Street, London in 1830.

Condition

Excellent

Literature

The sofa is attributed (not stamped) to Gillows of Lancaster and London
and some elements of the sofa design is in the manner of Peter & Michael Angelo Nicholson.

The feet are very closely related to furniture designs, that were produced by Peter Nicholson (1765-1844). He trained as a cabinet maker in Edinburgh before moving to London at the age of twenty-three, later practicing as an architect and writing many text books on carpentry, building, perspective and mathematics. His son Michael Angelo (c.1796-1842) worked with his father and in 1826 they collaborated to produce a much acclaimed book, ‘The Practical Cabinet Maker’ which illustrated the rich profusion of naturalistic leaf carving blended with classical motif, so typical of their work and demonstrated on the sofa.

Dimensions

Height 87.00cm (34.25 inches)

Width 144.00cm (56.69 inches)

Depth 60.00cm (23.62 inches)

Stock No: 11122

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