A George III Carved Mahogany Double-Sided Window Seat, Circa 1765

Ronald Phillips Ltd., London;

From whom acquired by Aso O. Tavitian, 10 March 2005.

This unusual window seat is conceived in the ‘French’ rococo taste as popularised by the designs of Thomas Chippendale in his Director of 1754 where the scrolling shape of the apron centred by a rocaille clasp and raised on cabriole legs with a characteristic hook scrolled foot can be related to his designs for ‘French Chairs’, most apparent in plate XVIII of his influential publication. 

It is possible that the current seat, unusual for being finished on both sides, was supplied by the cabinet-making partnership of Richard Wright and Edward Elwick. This Yorkshire based firm advertised themselves on their trade card as 'Upholders from London...' selling 'Cabinet work of ye Newest Fashion, Together, with all sorts of Household furniture'. As subscribers to Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, Wright and Elwick would have been familiar with current London taste and much of their output has clear references to the designs published by Thomas Chippendale.