Each with serpentine leaf-carved crest rail centered by a shell over an upholstered backrest flanked by upholstered sides, the armrests continuing to scrolled handholds, the serpentine-fronted seat rail carved with gadrooning and further shells between each leg, raised on leaf-carved and gadrooned molded cabriole legs, overall upholstered with gros point silk and wool needlework
40³⁄₄ in. (103.5 cm.) high, 86¹⁄₂ in. (220 cm.) wide, 29¹⁄₂ in. (75 cm.) deep

Part of a suite presumably commissioned by the 4th Earl of Chesterfield (d. 1773) or the 5th Earl of Chesterfield (d. 1816) for Chesterfield House, London.

Presumably transferred along with much of the 18th century furniture from Chesterfield House to Bretby Hall, the ancestral country seat of the Chesterfields in Derbyshire in the early 19th century.

The suite corresponds with one recorded in the 1817 inventory of Bretby Hall in the Upper Drawing Room: 2 handsome sofas one each side of chimney the frames, carved gilt in BG [burnished gold] wth thick squabs, 14 feather pillows, covered with crimson damask, decorated with gold colour silk lace, tafsells’.

Sold, along with six chairs, from Bretby Hall; Christie’s, London, 29-30 May 1918, lot 115.
(described as: A suite of Old English Furniture, of Louis XV design, the frameworks carved with shells and foliage, partly painted and gilt, the seats and backs stuffed, and covered with needlework with flowers and key-pattern in coloured wools, consisting of – Six armchairs Two settees).

Acquired from the above sale by Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood, for Chesterfield House, which he had recently purchased to use as his London residence.
(The 6th Earl had written to his mother on 2 June 1918 to let her know that he had bought some items from Bretby, including 'a set of 6 chairs + 2 sofas'. [Letter from Viscount Lascelles to 5th Countess of Harewood, 2 June 1918, 5th Countess of Harewood Archive, Harewood House Archive] ).

Included in a 1920 inventory of Chesterfield House carried out on behalf of Lord Lascelles, recorded as: A suite of Old English furniture in the Louis XVth. style, decorated in pink and gold and carved with leaf stringing shells and acanthus and gadroon borders, the seats and panel backs stuffed and covered in needlework designed with bouquets of flowers in key bordered panels on floral spray ground, comprising; 7ft 6in. Settee with serpentine back on 8 legs. / A ditto / and a set of 6 Fauteuils.)

The chairs from the suite photographed in situ in Chesterfield House in 1922.

Transferred to Harewood House, Yorkshire upon the sale of Chesterfield House in 1932.

Sold, The Property of the Right Honourable the Earl of Harewood; Christie’s, London, 23 May 1968, lot 107 (six armchairs and two settees).

With Mallett, London.

Property from a Private Collection, Fort Worth, Texas; Sotheby’s, New York, 22 January 1994, lot 233 ($123,500).

L. Synge, Furniture in Color, Blandford Press, London, 1977, p. 131, ill. pl. 52a
L. Synge, Antique Needlework, Blandford Press, London, 1982, p. 181, fig. 114.