Superb Gillows George IV Shepherd's Crook Armchair

A superb and rare George IV mahogany armchair by renowned makers Gillows. Having a shield shape back with wonderful shepherd's crook arms. Raised on cabriole front legs with venus shell carving to the knees, terminating in ball and eagle claw feet. Having a drop-in seat in old leather and retaining the original horsehair. Incredible colour and rich patina throughout. The chair bares the stamped initials "JB", for John Barrow, English, Circa 1830.

Dimensions: Height: 91.5 cm - 36 Inches, Width: 63.5 cm - 25 Inches, Depth: 56 cm - 22 Inches

Barrow, John. Lancaster or London; cabinet maker (fl.1826-48). The son of William Barrow, he was apprenticed to Leonard Redmayne on 21 September 1826. His indenture was witnessed by Richard Wilcock and James Moon. He was to be paid 7s. per week after the first two years of his seven-year apprenticeship. He was listed in the Gillows’ Petty Ledger 1834-39. He made an English and Danzig oak library table for Ferguson & Co. in 1841 and in 1848 a brown oak social table with a silk net and silk curtain. The legs were turned by M. Bateman and carved in the antique Elizabethan style by Farmer. A kidney shaped writing desk stamped Gillow is recorded, was signed ‘John Barrow’. Sold Bonhams New Bond St., 18 November 2009, lot 202. Source: Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 (2008), II, p.215.

An identical chair to this pattern was included by Gillows in their Estimate Sketch Book on 13 June 1827, to be made by Robert Lawson in yew with the carving on the knees and feet to be executed by Rigby at a total cost of £5 5s 0d. Another chair, also made by Robert Lawson but executed in brown oak, followed the same pattern as the Gillows design and the present pair of chairs (S. Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London, Woodbridge, 2008, vol. I, p. 231-232, plate 225). The latter chair was sold anonymously, Christie's, London, 16 September 2004, lot 6. The chair pattern was made by Gillows in a variety of woods including mahogany, walnut, yew, elm and brown oak. A pair in yew-wood and elm, formerly in the collection of Percival D. Griffiths FSA, probably the most famous of English furniture collections formed in the twentieth century, and then in the collection of Frederick Poke. The latter pair was sold by Benjamin F. Edwards III, Christie's New York, 26 Janaury 2010, lot 230 ($30,000).