Lot 1640
A PAIR OF MID 18TH CENTURY RED AND POLYCHROME PAINTED WINDSOR ARMCHAIRS,
each with a stick back and sides below a pierced cresting with oval medallion painted with a coat of arms with motto on a banderole above MDCC Enmore LVI (for Enmore Castle 1756), the saddle shape seat painted with a crest, on turned legs joined by stretchers, height 97cm, width 70cm
*The backs of the chairs are painted with the coat of arms of John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont (1711-1770) impaling that of his first wife, Lady Catherine Cecil (1719-1752) daughter of the 5th Earl of Salisbury and the seats are painted with the Perceval crest ('a thistle erect leaved proper'). The red and white pattern background decoration is derived from the coat of arms of the second Earl of Egmont.
A set of similar chairs is known painted with the Perceval arms and those of Catherine Compton, Baroness Arden of Lohort Castle whom the Earl married as his second wife in 1756.
Enmore Castle, Somerset was purchased by the 2nd Earl of Egmont from descendants of the Malet family who had owned it since the 12th century and he undertook considerable work on the castle in 1751-1755.
The decoration of the chairs aligns with his antiquarian interests and in 'A Tour to the West of England in 1788' by Rev S. Shaw (pub'd 1789) the hall is described as having 'the walls adorned with family busts and coats of arms; painted chairs of the same'.
A similar chair with decoration incorporating the arms of Catherine Compton is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert museum and others have appeared on the open market (e.g Christies 1st July 2004.
Bibliography includes Cornforth J. 'Fresh As Paint'. Country Life 18 April 1991, a copy of which is included with the chairs and the journal of the Regional Furniture Society vol XVII, 2004.
Provenance. Enmore Castle until a sale of the contents in 1899 (lots 266 - "four strong painted armchairs" and lot 267 "ditto") when bought by a Mrs Notley of Combe Sydenham Hall, Somerset. Combe Sydenham was bought by the the parents of the vendor and the chairs acquired from the Notley family.
