A Pair of George III Sofas by Gillows, c.1792

An elegant pair of late 18th century straight back settees, with ebonised and polychrome decoration. Square, tapered legs terminating in elegant cast brass paw feet. Upholstered in period-appropriate strict hessian over stuff, with hessian squab cushion.

Provenance:
Commissioned by Henry Howard (1757-1842) in 1792.
Phillips, The Principal Contents of Corby Castle, Cumbria, 18 May 1994, lot 331.

The original bill addressed to Henry Howard for the present lot has been traced in the Gillows archive. These sofas can be dated to 1792.

Literature:
G. Nares, 'Corby Castle, Cumberland-II', Country Life, 14 January 1954, p.93, fig.4 (illustrated in the Entrance Hall on the East front). See Country Life image archive, FCH000091393.

The Gillows Waste Book, held in the Westminster Archives (344/15), p.852, makes reference to '2 large sofas…15.15', under the account of Henry Howard.

Ref: 6293

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